How long does it take a dwarf spruce to grow?
Spruce trees, including this dwarf variety, are slow-growing, long-lived trees. It grows on average about 2 to 4 inches per year. It can take about 30 years to reach its maximum size of 10 to 13 feet based on that rate. And, if in an ideal location, it can live on for many years.
Growth Habit
Alberta spruce is a relatively slow growing species of tree, attaining a mature height of 12 feet after about 50 years. The tree grows vertically at a rate of 3 inches per year, and much more slowly horizontally. Dwarf Alberta spruce trees spread about 5 feet laterally, over a period of many years.
The growth rate of Picea pungens'Globosa' is quite slow, averaging only 1 to 6 inches per year (3 to 6 feet in 10 years) classifying this conifer as a dwarf. Maintenance of dwarf blue spruce is minimal.
The Dwarf White Spruce 'Conica' is a cultivar and is a small to medium-sized conifer evergreen dwarf shrub. This shrub is dense, compact, cone-shaped, grows 3 to 4 feet tall, and 1.5 feet wide after 10 years. After several decades, it will measure 10 to 13 feet tall and about 7 to 10 feet wide.
The Alberta Spruce thrives in full to part sun and adapts to any soil that is well drained. A neutral to acidic soil is best. If you know you have an alkaline soil choose an acidic fertilizer like Espoma's Holly Tone. After planting, adding a layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch will help keep the soil moist.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce needs 0.8 cups of water every 9 days when it doesn't get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5.0" pot. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
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. Its branches extend to the ground, giving excellent wind protection.
1. Weeping Willow. These trees are one of the fastest growing trees, growing 4-8′ a year! Full of grace, the weeping willow trees are also great for planting along a riverbank and places that may have flooding.
It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.
Common Names | Dwarf Alberta spruce, dwarf white spruce |
---|---|
Plant Type | Tree |
Mature Size | 10 to 13 ft. tall, 7 to 10 ft. wide |
Sun Exposure | Full |
Soil Type | Moist, well-drained soil |
What is the lifespan of a dwarf blue spruce?
Planting & Growing:
It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.
The 'Conica' spruce (Picea glauca albertiana 'Conica') is a popular cultivar that stays quite small, at just 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. True to its name, this dwarf evergreen has a conical shape that it maintains without intervention.
![How long does it take a dwarf spruce to grow? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hUwOR2tMW8c/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLBwSMxETumtigMvSGa3AfevjU2DSA)
Spacing Your Plants
Plant your Dwarf Alberta Spruce Trees 3 feet apart for a seamless wall of foliage. Alternatively, space them 6+ feet apart to leave gaps in between your trees.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a small plant, so its roots are not significant. Preferably, the depth does not exceed the height of the plant itself, although there may be exceptions. Also, the diameter of the root system is slightly larger than the width of the spruce crown.
You may want to provide added insulation to increase winter survival. Bury the pots (if not decorative) in an unused garden area for the winter. Place the Alberta spruce in a sheltered location out of winter wind and sun. Or move the planters to a sheltered location.
Softwood that is split and stacked in a dry place takes 4-6 summer months to dry to an acceptable moisture level. Hardwoods take at least 12 months to dry after being split and stacked. Stack the wood on lumber rails or pallets to get it up off the moist ground.
If the whole tree has turned brown, remove it and clean up as much of the brown needles to minimize pests and diseases still in the leaf litter. Then start over with better planting and watering, in a different part of your garden, or with another kind of evergreen.
Multi Purpose 10-10-10 Fertilizer works well. Liquid fertilizers (such as Miracle Gro) are mixed with water and applied the same as you would water the plant (see product for specific details). This should be done three or four times per year starting in late April and ending in mid July.
Most commonly, dwarf Alberta spruce fall victim to spruce spider mites. These tiny yet extremely destructive relatives of spiders can quickly kill a tree. Since they're so tiny, mites are almost impossible to see. To check for an infestation, come spring, head out to the plant with a piece of white paper.
Spruce trees should be watered if there is less than 1 inch of rainfall per week. Adequate root formation requires you to water Spruce trees down deep at a slow rate. Placing the hose at the base of the Spruce and setting the water flow on trickle will allow the water to seep in deep into the soil.
How can you tell if a spruce tree is overwatered?
The signs of overwatering a blue spruce are a lot like the signs of underwatering. You will see browning of the foliage, wilting of the branches, and die back if the watering goes on for a long time.
In order to grow a 2×2 tree (be it mega spruce, mega pine, mega jungle or dark oak), four saplings must be placed adjacent to each other in a square. For growth to succeed, there must be no blocks adjacent (even diagonally) to the north-western side up to the final height of the tree.
The Norway spruce (Picea abies) is generally considered faster growing compared to the white pine (Pinus strobus). Norway spruces are known for their rapid growth rate, with an average annual growth of 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) under favorable conditions.
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.
The slowest growing tree is the white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), one of which was located on a cliffside in the Canadian Great Lakes area and grew to a height of less than 10.2 cm (4 in) after only 155 years!
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