March 2005:
The river birch trees have done well over the past few years. They grow relatively fast -meaning they don't look like dinky nursery-bought trees for too long. They do need a little help with extra watering during periods of drought. Sun-tolerant plants are still able to thrive underneath the canopy, which offers light shade. There was an issue with one bagworm nest during the late summer, but CG was ready for the challenge and quickly dispatched them.
March 2007:
The trees are pruned each winter, and each time CG pauses to wonder if he got a little carried-away with the pruners. C'est la vie. If you don't think you can live with it, it's best to do away with it -is CG's pruning motto.
In May 2007, the river birch that was closest to the house was moved. It had a rough summer, followed by a late freeze (after it had set leaves) the following spring. Now it is noticeably smaller than its siblings. It was moved to offer a more balanced transition from the yard to the planting bed (and maybe it was planted a little too close to the house to begin with, but CG will never admit to that!)
February 2009:
The river birch were fertilized with a 12-10-10 sprinkling, cast from their driplines outwards to about 6 feet. This was done in the fall, after they dropped all of their leaves, and will be repeated in the spring a couple weeks after the last freeze. CG is expecting good things from his river birch this year!
