Birch trees are known for their beauty, bringing peace and harmony. People find it easy to breathe in birch forests. Many gardeners want to grow these lovely trees. This article covers how to grow them.
Birch trees are deciduous and part of the birch family. Most grow to about 30 meters tall. Some can reach 40-45 meters. Adult trees have trunk diameters of 40-150 centimeters. These trees rely on wind for reproduction. They can live for 100 years or more in nature.
Birch roots are strong and can grow near the surface or deep down. Deep roots are more common. Young birches grow slowly at first. After a few years, they start growing faster. The bark is interesting to botanists. While birch bark is usually white, it can also be yellow, pink, brown, or gray.
The bark peels off easily. People often use it to weave baskets or make crafts.
Birch leaves have a classic triangular shape with smooth edges. Young leaves are sticky. Before falling off, the leaves turn yellow. Birch twigs have a special smell. That's why they are often used in many bathhouses.
Birch trees bloom in the spring. Catkins form earlier, with male catkins appearing in the summer. Each male catkin holds about 600 seeds. They are protected by a special coating that helps them survive the winter. In spring, these catkins grow longer and release pollen.
Birch is mainly used in construction. It is an excellent building material for making furniture and crafts. The tree is used both as a whole and processed into plywood or veneer. Sometimes birch is used to imitate more valuable wood species. It is used to make joinery, since the wood retains its qualities for a long time and is inexpensive, unlike oak. It is also used for parquet.
Birch is very flexible in work, so it is often used to make a wide variety of items:
sports equipment;
guitar bodies;
barrels for storing food products;
handles of household appliances;
beer mugs and much more.
In addition, birch firewood is often used for kindling in a fireplace. The wood of this crop does not emit sparks or unpleasant odors. It emits a subtle, delicate aroma, saturated with useful phytoncides. The flame will have a bluish color.