I've always loved the appearance of river birch trees, and I'm considering planting a clump of them in my front yard. I know they shed a lot of material, which can be annoying for some people, but I really want to make this work! The closest water line is about 12 feet away, and there's also a concrete walkway and my neighbor's driveway that are 12 feet away. The house is about 25 to 30 feet from where I'm thinking of planting. Am I being unreasonable with this idea? I don't mind watering them a lot during their early years.
3 Answers
Just a heads up, river birches have a pretty aggressive and shallow root system since they're flood plain trees. If you plant them near hard surfaces like sidewalks or driveways, they might end up causing damage as they grow. You might want to look into a product like Biobarrier to help manage their roots if you decide to plant them there.
Honestly, I’ve seen river birches thrive in much worse locations without major issues. If you really love them, go for it! Just keep an eye on their growth.
Fun fact: river birches don’t naturally grow in a clump; growers force them into that shape when they’re young. You might find that one trunk usually outgrows the others, causing some lopsidedness. But if you like the look of a clump, I say go for it! Just be prepared for some maintenance down the line.
That makes sense! I just love the clump look, even if it’s not natural. Thanks for the insight!