Can you plant a spruce tree in the winter? (2024)

Can you plant a spruce tree in the winter?

Evergreens—such as spruce and pine trees—never shed their needles. Because they need all the nutrients they can get before the ground freezes, they have a narrower planting window than deciduous trees. The key is to plant evergreens when the soil is no lower than 60 degrees F (16 degrees C).

Deciduous trees should be fine, as long as you plant them early enough in the season. Check your soil temperature to make sure it is not lower than 50°F. Evergreen trees, like pine or spruce, need a soil temperature of at least 60°F. If they're planted in too cold of soil, they will likely die.

Most plants and trees should have 6 to 8 weeks to establish their roots before a hard freeze. For subtropical and tropical climates, winter is a great time to plant because the ground doesn't freeze in these areas. Avoid planting evergreen trees in winter unless you live in a climate where the ground does not freeze.

Plant spruce in spring or early summer. Avoid planting in the heat of summer as it can stress a newly planted spruce, and then the tree won't establish a good root system, or worse, it may succumb to drought and heat stress. Also, do not plant spruces in fall in cold climates.

And then there's your tree's first few winters. Frankly, they can be tough to get through. Young trees are much more vulnerable to cold weather damage than mature ones, so they need extra help from you to bear the elements. Below, get tips on protecting newly planted trees and shrubs from frost damage.

Evergreens, or conifers like pine, spruce, and fir are best planted in early to late spring or early to mid autumn. In my zone 5 region that is April to early June and September and October. If you can, wait until there is a cloudy or drizzly day to transplant.

Unlike many plants, its best to plant blue spruce during the dormancy period of November to March. Planting during cold temperatures allows the blue spruce to develop roots for the spring season. Choose a site with full sun, loose draining soil, and plenty of elbow room.

Answer: All trees and shrubs should be transplanted during their winter dormant time (mid-December through mid-February). Transplanting means that roots have to be cut, and the plants benefit by not having that done while they're growing actively.

Bare root trees can't sit around for too long, waiting to be planted. You can keep them in a cool, shady spot for up to a week. But you've gotta make sure their roots stay moist.

The Benefits of Winter

Planting them at least six weeks before a heavy freeze helps them grow roots when they're already focusing on rooting and preparing for winter. Any subsequent cold weather will, if the tree is healthy and well-cared for, actually “harden off” the tree and help them become stronger and hardier.

Do spruce trees need water in winter?

Evergreen Trees and Shrubs

Evergreens continue producing chlorophyll during the winter, so they will need water all winter long. New evergreens will especially need to be watered since their roots are not as established. While snow adds some water, it isn't enough.

The Norway spruce is a classic choice with rich green needles and graceful drooping branches. It's one of the tallest spruce trees, as it can grow to about 60 feet in height in cultivation, and is often used as a windbreak or privacy screen. This cultivar is adaptable and grows well in various soil types.

How often should I water my evergreen in the winter? Once the ground is frozen, watering your tree isn't necessary. If you live in a warmer climate where the ground doesn't freeze, you should water your evergreen in winter as often as it needs it. Here's how to tell when your tree does or doesn't need water.

Transplant shock can also make a newly planted tree more susceptible to pests and diseases. It is important to understand that transplant shock is normal to a degree. However, you can take steps before and after planting to minimize its impact and help your tree recover and establish quicker.

Mulch – In late fall to early winter, place a 2-3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch that extends just beyond the tree's dripline. This is very important with newly-planted evergreens – both conifer and broadleaf. Avoid placing mulch directly against the trunk.

Protect your trees and plants:

Cover susceptible trees and plants with burlap, sheets, tarps, etc., that extend to the ground to trap in the earth's accumulated warmth. Use a frame or stakes to minimize contact between the cover and the foliage. Bring potted plants and trees to more protected locations.

While spruce trees are well-suited to cold temperatures, new growth is not. New twigs and needles develop thickened cell walls (called lignification) as they mature, needing the bulk of the growing season to complete this process.

Spruces are most suited to large, open areas with full sun. The figures in this MontGuide depict trees grown in open, full sun conditions. Spruces also make superb components of windbreaks and privacy screens. Over many year, spruces can grow too big for average-sized yards.

The Norway Spruce is the fastest growing Spruce tree, with a growth rate of over 2 feet per year. This strong evergreen tree is extremely cold hardy and easy to grow. A large pyramidal conifer, this huge Spruce tree is perfect for planting in the front yard and decorating with lights for Christmas.

The Norway Spruce is a fast growing (2-3' per year) evergreen that has dark green needles that are 1 inch long, and can grow up to 5 ft a year in a good weather year. It never drops its needles but keeps them on for up to 10 years.

Are spruce trees easy to transplant?

Spruce trees are a common candidate for transplanting due to their slower growth rates and our short growing season. Depending on the size of tree, transplanting a spruce tree can mean everything from the use of a skid steer for a younger tree to the use of one of our tree spade trucks for larger for established trees.

Usually they grow 10-12 ft. tall in 10 years and 10-20 ft. wide with age per year, but oftentimes less than that if it is not in its native habitat or out of its range.

Evergreens will not have any new bud growth which is an indicator that the tree is currently dormant. However, you also do not want to transplant the tree in the middle of winter, as you will be risking heavy root damage when there is frost in the soil.

The only trees you should totally avoid planting in winter are evergreens. Unlike deciduous trees and shrubs, evergreens hold on to their foliage in wintertime, and it'd be really hard for them to establish their roots and preserve their needles' moisture levels with a limited water supply in winter.

Yes and no! As long as the ground temperature is above freezing, tree roots can and do continue to grow, whether tree roots grow in winter depends on the local climate. As soil temperature moves closer to 36°F, roots grow less. Then, once it's freezing, growth pauses then resumes as soil warms in the spring.