“Why is it that my birch tree drips so intensely?” This question can often be read in forums. Hobby gardeners are often unsure what this phenomenon is all about. Our guide summarizes everything you need to know about birch dripping.
Why does a birch tree drip?
Birch dripping is due to injuries caused by improper sawing of branches, frost, wind, animals or pathogens. It does not necessarily harm the birch and can even help close wounds.
The “bleeding” of the birch
When sap comes out of a birch or other tree, many gardeners speak of “bleeding”. This term is somewhat misleading because neither birch trees nor any other trees have blood - so they cannot bleed. Nevertheless, this term has become established, probably because it is short and memorable.
There is still no alternative term in the professional world for birch dripping that is coherent, uniform and really catchy. That's why we use the word "bleed" when we talk about a tree losing sap. So much for the conceptual difficulties.
Why can a birch tree drip or bleed?
If sap comes out of the birch tree, there is an injury. The cause is usually sawing off branches. An incorrect cut and/or (too) large cuts cause profound damage to the birch wood. As a result, tree sap comes out of the wounds - the birch tree drips. It has to be said that birches are poor insulators.
In addition to the human-caused injuries, there are also some natural causes for birch trees to bleed. Mechanical damage caused by frost or wind as well as damage caused by animals (birch bark beetles) are also possible triggers. The same applies to pathogens such as viruses.
Is bleeding harmful to the birch tree?
Most experts are of the opinion that it does not necessarily have to harm the birch if tree sap comes out after the branches are injured. There is still no clear evidence in science, one can only rely on practical experience.
Interesting: Some studies even suggest that the sap flow is beneficial because it helps the tree close injured vessels. Other researchers say the bleeding makes it harder for potentially dangerous spores to get inside the wood. Of course, there are also doubters who are of the opinion that it can't be a good thing if birches or other trees lose liters of nutrient-rich sap.
Tip
Try to prevent dripping by trimming the birch properly - because it is of course better if it does not drip.