A Question About Birch

[TurnedAround]

I live in the Atlanta area and was recently offered a rather large birch tree to blank out. I was wondering if the southern variety of birch is worth the effort to blank, core and dry it?

Thanks, Larry

 

[MichaelMouse]

Urban trees can be almost any variety that will survive with care. From the woods, you generally get something adapted to the area.

Means that you have to take a chance on species, if an urban tree, though white-barked types are generally pretty bland compared to the "yellow" birches. They also have a relatively short suitable period when spalting. Once they start, they move to unusable within a season. Get the log up off the ground to preserve your spalting options and take a sample foot or two to see what's there.

 

[Joe Herrmann]

Our white birch tends to keep it's bark easily and makes great wood for "natural-edged" weed pots and the like. As noted in a previous post, be very careful as the wood rots quickly.

Yellow birch is prettier.

Joe