Anyone who has ever traveled through distant Siberia knows the seemingly endless birch forests that form the picturesque and unmistakable panorama there. The fact that the trees not only withstand the extreme conditions of this harsh climate, but even grow and thrive intensively, provides information about how the birch copes in the winter in its local areas.
How does the birch behave in winter and what care does it need?
The birch tree in winter shows its robustness and frost resistance. It produces male kittens as early as autumn and can survive temperatures down to -45°C. Winter care is straightforward; only tree cutting should be postponed until frost-free days.
Condition of the birch tree in winter
During the winter months, the next blossoming of the birch trees is already dormant. The male kittens begin to form in the fall, although they do not open immediately but instead initially survive the winter. The following spring, the female flowers appear on new young shoots on the same tree, so that fertilization by the wind can take place quickly and efficiently. This extremely successful method of propagation makes the birch one of the so-called pioneer plants. Even poor soils, severe cold and inhospitable conditions do not stop these trees from spreading luxuriantly.
Birches in frost and snow
After the birch turns its leaves intensely golden yellow in autumn and then sheds them completely as the months progress, it survives even harsh winters without any problems. The survival artist is extremely frost-resistant and hardy.
In fact, depending on the species, the trees have a frost hardiness of up to -45 degrees Celsius. This applies, for example, to the silver birch, which is most common in Germany, and also to the fairly widespread downy birch. Although they are very light-requiring plants, they can also withstand cloudy winter days and partial shade for long periods of time. Even very young trees are already equipped with the resilience that is at least as characteristic of the Betula genus as its shimmering white trunk.
Properly care for birch trees in winter
When its delicate branches are covered in snow, the birch tree in the garden is at least as attractive a sight on frosty winter days as it is with its lush summer-green foliage. In order to optimally care for the picturesque tree, there are no additional obligations in the cold season than in other seasons. However, you should refrain from cutting the birch in winter unless it is absolutely necessary. It is better to postpone the tree pruning on dry and frost-free days in autumn.
