1. Planting: Birch Trees can be grown in nearly any part of the country but prefer soils that are rich in nutrition.

Plant after all dangers of frost has passed. Select a spot that will receive about 6 to 8 hours of sunlight faily. Dig a hole that is three times as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Keep the tree as straight as possible and begin to backfill the hole. Continue until the hole is filled and the tree stands upright on its own. Younger trees may need to be staked.

Water deeply once the tree is planted. Put a slow release of water on a hose and leave next to the root system area for a couple of hours to be sure the depth is reached. Finally, spread a three-foot layer of mulch around the base of the tree with wood chips, shredded bark, or leaf compost.

FGT Tip: Stakes can typically be removed after a year of planting. A good way to determine if your tree ready to stand on its own: Shake the center - if the root ball has no movement, then your tree is ready to stand on its own.

2. Watering: Provide deep a watering for the Birch weekly, using a hose next to the base with a slow flow of water for 2 hours during growing season. You may need to increase to twice weekly during hot, dry summers. Reduce watering towards the end of August so your tree can winterize for its dormant stage.

3. Fertilizing: Birches should be fertilized once or twice a year, once in spring and again mid-summer. Fertilize in the late spring and early summer with a product that targets root growth. Use an acidified evergreen fertilizer, such as 10-10-10.

4. Pruning: The best time to prune is late summer or early autumn.

Start by removing side shoots and suckers first with a sterilized pair of shears and then decide which branches to remove. Be conservative with your pruning and do not remove more than 25% of the tree canopy. Cut back branches that are less than 2 inches wide as close to the trunk as possible.