The picturesque trees with the distinctive whitish trunk are actually the epitome of spring. But the birch also brings with it a very special aura and some secrets in autumn. Get to know the tree in the golden season, properly assess it and care for it. The autumn season is also still interesting for he alth purposes.
What are the features and benefits of birch trees in autumn?
In autumn, the birch leaves turn golden yellow before falling off, while the catkins are already developing for the coming spring. Autumn is ideal for tree pruning as water transport is reduced. In addition, golden yellow birch leaves are rich in antioxidants, particularly useful for he alth and cosmetics.
State of the birch in autumn
After the birch blossoms in spring and the subsequent fruit ripening, the tree slowly comes to rest in autumn. The male kittens are already in the first stages of their development for the following spring and then hibernate together. However, the resilient trees no longer pump water with great enthusiasm to the most remote peaks to supply leaves, flowers and new shoots. Instead, the leaf of the birch slowly takes on its characteristic golden yellow color before the tree completely sheds its foliage in winter.
Tree pruning in autumn
Since the birch reduces its water transport slightly in autumn, the time of year is considered ideal for tree pruning. In general, experienced gardeners can prune their birch trees all year round, but the typical bleeding is less likely in the golden season. This happens when large amounts of water subsequently flow out of the interfaces. This phenomenon is not considered fundamentally harmful, but under certain conditions it could of course promote fungi and putrefactive processes.
Birch leaves in autumn for he alth and cosmetics
Both the green leaves and buds of the birch tree are known in spring for their healing ingredients such as flavonoids, vitamin C and essential oils. You can:
- strongly draining effect
- have anti-inflammatory properties
- used for hair and skin care
Do the leaves of the birch tree become unusable in autumn as soon as they lose their green leaf pigment chlorophyll? The opposite should be the case, because when the birch sheds its golden yellow leaves in the cool season, they are particularly rich in antioxidants. Only the antioxidant substances can protect the leaf from UV radiation after the chlorophyll has decomposed. This is one of the secrets of the birch as an artist of life. Often referred to as the tree of light, the birch tree can withstand intense sunlight in its natural habitat.