I'll second what Lucy said. Also, you might try removing the top layer of soil (or mulch, if there is any) from the pot, and replacing with fresh soil/medium. The flies are probably congregating for moisture or food or mating. As Lucy mentioned, the flies may not necessarily be bad for the tree. The presence of the flies could, however, indicate that conditions in the pot are not the best for the birch. My guess is that the flies will move in a short while. Josh

what a beautiful tree. As far as the pruning is concerned..I planted a river birch tree recently and was reading up on limbing the tree because right now mine looks like one big 10ft shrub when I bought it. Everything I have read says you are suppose to wait for January or February to prune a river birch. Here is some information from another website on this subject. I did a copy and paste..... Prune off lower branches to reveal the attractive bark but do not prune during the growing season. Rather, wait until the end of the growing season in the fall. This is especially important because the bronze birch borer is active during the spring and open pruning wounds are inviting to them. Problems

Hi, I posted the original question here and I must say I never thought it would cause such a ruckus. This a forum and by definition everyone is entitled to express their views. If anyone even cares anymore about the situation in question, I'll tell you mine. First of all, I am a Professional and I posted the question here because I wanted peer advice. (I thought about the Tree Forum but decided this was a better bet for experienced answers, plus the guidelines say that you should not post the same question in multiple forums, so I had to choose one) Secondly Mike,("my suggestion is to leave them alone and put the perennials some where else") if you read the original post you will see that the damage to the roots had already been done when I wrote it. The underplanting is for a client, at their request and is an intentional and good design solution for a few reasons. The perennials were sourced specifically for that area, they were not just sitting around looking for a home. Thirdly, I have done many plantings that have involved disturbing tree roots and am well aware that most trees are amazingly resilient and can take a lot of abuse (as gardengal pointed out). As I said in the original post, I wouldn't have worried much except that these were Birches (shallow rooted, prone to water issues) in a confined area in an exceptionally wet summer. That's why I decided to ask about it. Finally, these are mature Birches and I (my company) am not an Arborist. I would have no means of pruning 1/3 of the foliage even if I were so inclined, which I definitely am NOT. I can see no benefit to stressing out the tree at both ends, especially in the middle of August. I am familiar with the old school idea of pruning foliage and roots, but I believe this applies more to shrubs, and to transplanting. And frankly, in my experience, it doesn't work all that well even in that case. That being said, I do absolutely appreciate everyone's input. Honestly. I don't know about the moderators, but it seems to me that this is well on it's way to being it's own separate subject. Again, if anyone cares anymore, we finished the planting on Thursday, with 100 Geraniums and a light dressing of mulch and instructions to the homeowner to water regularly if it doesn't rain. With the Geraniums just starting to get a hint of their Fall color, it looks really, really nice. Thanks again everybody, and play nicely. Sam

I think I got something from Rebecca - that I didn't see on her list so I am not sure, but it was with the HUGE strawberries she brought me (Grace says thank you, she loved them!). Anywho - it is a cactus looking thing of some type - very long and kinda soft prickles on it. Inside or outside plant - what does it need? I am planting out a strawberry jar with the little sedums from Heather - and I would like to put this on the top - if it will go there. And Heather - we had an accident this morning. A storm blew up rather quickly and knocked my planting table over...in the middle of planting my little sedum treasures from you. I lost my little cactus (small green button looking one with long prickles on it). Can you save me one for the fall swap...I was kinda getting attached to it, it was the smallest plant I brought home from the swap. Also - I got a birch from someone...in a blue? minivan with several children - hubby appeared to be packing up everything. Anyway - I don't know what kind of birch it is... Anyone have a clue? I will be starting my blog soon and filling it with pictures. If some of you can chime in with names on the ones that had no names, or the tape as faded and I can't see them...please, by all means, enlighten me. Pretty green things in my beds are wonderful - but I like having a name for them in my garden journal so I know where to look for them next spring. :D Happy planting to all of you! I have already started turning new ground on new beds since the swap - you have inspired my gardening creativity again. Tiffany PS - Connie I adopted one of your little plants that was orphaned when you left - a very cool little forsythia with varigated leaves - how quickly does it grow? I am worried about planting it in the beds now and think it may need to stay in the nursery bed this year. Help?