Of all the evergreens available for use in our cold, Northern landscape, spruce offers a symmetry and fullness that is unequaled. The upright tree forms, such as Colorado Blue spruce, are very popular in large landscapes and the smaller shrub forms, such as Blue Nest spruce, offer an unique addition to smaller, more private garden areas. Spruce are not only important in the landscape, they are valued for their strong, lightweight wood used in construction and for items important to many Minnesotans, such as canoe paddles. The sap from spruce may be a nuisance to gardeners as they work with their plants, but it is used in several medicinal compounds and in varnish. In fact, Picea, the Latin term for spruce, came from the Latin word for pitch, pix.
While growing spruce in the landscape has its obvious rewards,
it also presents a number of challenges. Though there are a few
varieties of spruce native to our Minnesota landscapes, none is
adapted to the urban setting. This makes it important to carefully
match the plant to the site and provide for its needs as it grows
and matures. On the whole, spruce need well-drained acid, soil
with average moisture. Spruce are also sun-lovers that are never
happy in shade. They are not well-adapted to heavy clay. Of all
the varieties, Colorado spruce are the most tolerant of clay but
the site needs to be fairly well-drained. If the situation is
both clay and an area that receives excess moisture, even a Colorado
spruce may not survive. Colorado spruce are also the most drought-tolerant
once established. If the site is extremely exposed, try planting
a Black Hills spruce. Spruce also tend to be more salt-tolerant
than pines.
In addition to matching the spruce to the site, it is important
that they be planted with care. Spruce have an extensive shallow
root system and they are very sensitive to being planted too deeply.
Just planting the root ball an inch or two too deeply may mean
the difference between thriving and just surviving. Bachman's
will be glad to provide you with instructions on how to properly
install new plants. Whether you are planting a potted or B&B
spruce, be sure to take a few minutes to determine exactly where
the root flare begins along the trunk. Sometimes the process of
potting or balling a plant will push excess soil up around the
trunk that will need to be removed when the plant is put in its
permanent location. If you have any questions about locating the
root flare or the best way to install plants, ask one of our horticulturists.
They'd be glad to help.
Spruce have aquired a reputation as having various problems as
they grow. The bad news is that the reputation is deserved. But
the good news is that the vast majority of problems spruce experience
are the result of stresses that can be avoided. Taking steps to
plant them in the right place and provide for their ongoing needs
will minimize the stresses and strengthen the spruce. This usually
prevents problems.
Spruce needles are all short, especially in comparison with pines.
A distinguishing feature of spruce needles is that when you roll
them between your fingers you can feel that they are 4-sided.
Their needles are also held individually like the firs. As with
all other evergreens, spruce needles are only held a specific
number of years before the inner, oldest year's growth is shed.
Spruce average holding their needles 5-7 years. Knowing that the
older wood will end up bare is important to understanding how
to prune spruce if they should ever need it. Pick up a copy of
our information sheet on that subject.
There are many, many varieties of spruce from which to choose.
Here is information on those Bachman's currently offers (marked
by an asterisk) as well as a few other popular varieties.
Shrub Form Spruce
*Blue Pearl Picea pungens 'Blue Pearl' 3' tall x 3' wide; silvery-blue foliage; very dense, compact plant; hardy to Zone 2. Dwarf Alberta Picea glauca conica 6-8' tall x 3-4' wide;
dusty green foliage; a natural dwarf variety found growing in Alberta,
Canada; extremely short needles on a very dense plant; needs protection
in winter; hardy to Zone 4. *Dwarf Blue Picea pungens 'Globosa' 3' tall x 4' wide;
blue foliage; outstanding coloring; dense, global shape; also available
as a standard; hardy to Zone 2. *Dwarf Norway Picea abies 'Pumila' 3' tall x 3' wide;
dark green foliage; good compact form; very short needles; hardy to
Zone 3. *Mrs. Cesarini Picea pungens 'Mrs. Cesarini' 2' tall
x 4' wide; bright green foliage; needles are shiny and clustered giving
the plant a unique texture; mounded, flat habit; hardy to Zone 2. *Blue Nest Picea mariana 'Ericoides' 12" tall x
3' wide; blue-green foliage; unusual low spreading habit; hardy to
Zone 3. *Procumbens Picea pungens 'Procumbens' 18" tall
x 3' wide; blue foliage; irregular, undulating growth habit; hardy
to Zone 2.
Tree Form Spruce
*Black Hills Picea glauca densata30-40' tall x
20-30' wide; dark green foliage; slow-growing; native to the Dakotas;
dense, upright, pyramidal habit; resistant to disease problems; hardy
to Zone 3. *Colorado Picea pungens40-60' tall x 15-30' wide; green
to blue foliage; color varies greatly from plant to plant; upright,
pyramidal habit; the most drought-tolerant of the spruce; hardy to
Zone 3. *Fat Albert Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' 40-60' tall x
15-30' wide; blue foliage; actual ultimate size is not known -- 15-20
year old specimens are still just 15' tall; dense, pyramidal habit;
outstanding color; hardy to Zone 3. Norway Picea abies40-60' tall x 25-30' wide; dark green
foliage; upright, pyramidal form; some cultivars offer a pendulous
habit as they mature; hardy to Zone 3b. *Serbian Picea omorika 50-60' tall x 20-25' wide; dark
green foliage; distinctive branching; needles bi-colored dark green
and glaucous white; hardy to Zone 4.
* Indicates varieties currently sold at Bachman's.
Additional Bachman's Information Sheets Caring for Newly Planted Plants
Evergreen Problems: Insects, Diseases, Cultural and Environmental
Evergreen Trees -- Evergreen Shrubs
Pruning Evergreens
The Right Evergreen for the Right Site
Understanding Your Soil
Acidifying Soil -- Soil pH
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