Spruce Trees – Nature’s Queens
by: Liz Roberts

Spruce trees are the most regal of any tree. Even their dwarf variety adds a touch of class to all sorts of landscapes. They can be planted to be a yard’s centerpiece, complimenting both house and garden. Their sheer height and beauty command people to notice them, like queens holding court.

Spruce trees come in several different varieties. Usually most landscapers plant only one or two spruces in a setting. Spruce trees do take up a lot of space so it’s best if there is a large unused area . The Colorado Blue spruce is a prime example of this. You can use it on larger properties to act as a screen , fence or windbreaker. Its’ height reaches a towering 90 to 135 feet while its’ width is a staggering 20 to 30 feet across. The Colorado Blue spruce is more drought tolerant than other spruces but it is the most fussiest. It prefers a moist, rich soil and full sunlight. This spruce require pruning in early spring. Remove all dead wood for a healthier tree. During hot, dry weather it is important to water the younger spruces on a once a week basis. Place the hose at the base of the tree, allowing water to trickle into the surrounding soil. Colorado Blue spruces do attract their share of damaging insects. Be on the lookout for the Spruce gall aphid which can cause the branch tips to die. Other killers include the spruce budworm and the spider mite. Not only can these hurt the tree, but also ruin the spruce’s perfect symmetry, causing stunted or withering limbs.

The Colorado Blue spruce’s cousin, the Colorado spruce is another attention grabber. It does have a big minus to consider before planting it. Canker disease disfigures this tree in its’ youth. If it escapes this malady the Colorado spruce can be a lovely addition, usually growing in hedge form. Some like the Henry B. Fowler or the Hunnewelliana types reach heights of 20 feet or more and with their bushy branches, can work as thick dense fences. A larger variety is the Bizon Blue, This Colorado spruce type can grow up to 35 to 40 feet in height and 15 feet across . This is the perfect tree for a singular display because of its mass. It can fill an entire section of landscaping and look majestic by it’s lone self. Most Colorado spruces have blue green or silver foliage which grow in thicket like appendages.

Another showcase spruce is the Norwegian variety. Thanks to its’ length and breadth , it is perfect for shade in the summer and holiday decorations in the winter. Norwegians can range anywhere from an overpowering 40 to 60 feet in height with a branch spread of 25 to 30 feet. Larger properties can use several as a high, protective screen or fence. A smaller yard would do better with just one Norwegian spruce. Again, this type is fussy, preferring sandy, loam or clay soil with a pH ranging between 3.7 to 6.5. Plant the Norwegian saplings in anywhere from partial shade to full sunlight. Luckily, for all its’ neediness, it is relatively easy to transplant. This is due to its’ spreading root systems. Plant these spruces either burlapped or balled in sandy , moist ground. The young trees , like their Colorado type cousins, needed to be watered once a week during dry hot weather. Leave the hose near the trees’ base, allowing the water to seep in and thoroughly saturate the roots. Norwegian spruces need to be pruned in the early spring. Also they need to be checked for their enemies, red spider mites, borers, budworms, and spruce gall aphids. These insects damage to the tree, ruining its’ stately beauty. Be on the look out for them and treat the infestation at its’ earliest possible stages.

Consider the Serbian spruce if looking for a tree that won’t overpower the yard or garden. It does grow to a majestic 55 feet but only has a branch span of 20 feet across. It grows in a slender, pyramidal , almost column like shape. Serbian spruces only grow one inch per year. The black spruce is similar to the Serbian in shape, height and appearance but grows 12-15 inches per year . It is tall and slender, and a good addition to smaller properties.

Pacific Northwest homeowners should plant the indigenous Sitka spruce. It is the largest of all the spruces and has a life span of a whopping 500 years. The Sitka spruce has very sharp needles while its’ branches have a pronounced upward sweep at their ends. It is relatively low maintenance, requiring only partial sunlight and shade along with moist, well drained soil. It should be watered regularly to encourage root growth.

The white spruce is similar to the Sitka but can be found in the mid-Atlantic states throughout the Midwest and South. It is a densely pyramid shaped spire, growing to 50 feet in height with a branch span of 20 feet . It is adaptable to any area and also good for transplanting. Offshoots of the white spruce include the Conica or Dwarf Alberta spruce , a dense cone shaped plant with a slow growth rate. These make for a very nice hedges or borders. There is also the even smaller Rainbow’s End, a dwarf spruce that sports bright yellow foliage which later turns to a deep jade green.

If planning to grow a variety of different type of spruces, then there are a few rules to remember. Most spruce trees need what’s known as a pure atmosphere to survive. They will die if they are covered in soot or other impurities such as smog or pollution. Most spruces should be planted in the spring before any other new growths appear and crowd them out. Place balled and burlapped older trees in 2 feet deep holes with about 1 foot of space between them and other trees. Saplings can be planted in the period of late August to mid-fall but no later than that. Pack soil with compost on top of the roots, then thoroughly soak with water. Mulch with either leaf mold , compost or organic leftovers (such as egg shells, rotten vegetables, etc.) During the spruces’ first two years, thoroughly soak the surrounding ground during droughts. Spruce seeds can also be planted , but plant in an area where water doesn’t accumulate in puddles. Make the seed beds 3 to 4 feet wide and 12 to 15 inches apart. Protect them from harsh sunlight and excessive frost, covering up the ground with slot shades. Spruces can also be grafted onto each other to create new hybrids. Start this process first in a glass then in a pot during the early spring. Erect shoots will then grow from this and be used as scions or branchlets. When the union of the two types is complete the hybrid can be transplanted in a cold frame. It is then inserted in a bed of sand and put into a propagating bed (preferably in a greenhouse). Once roots are formed the two trees are potted separately in smaller containers. Later , plant in the desired area. The new spruce should start rooting shortly. Hybrid pruning doesn’t take place until the tree begins to form more than one trunk

Spruce trees are beautiful and regal additions to any landscape. They may be demanding as a queen but they are truly worth the time and effort. The result is beautiful trees, complimenting the yard.