Where can spruce trees grow?
Black spruce (Picea mariana) and white spruce (P. glauca) are found throughout most of northern North America, from the Great Lakes to the Arctic tree line.
Grow zones: Blue spruces can be planted in zones 2-7. They do well in cold climates, but they can't handle excessively hot or humid weather. Where to plant: A blue spruce isn't overly fussy about soil. It can grow in nearly any soil type as long as it has good drainage.
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.
In its native woods, the tree assumes a majestic grandeur, growing from 90 to 135 feet tall and cloaking mountains in a somber green beauty. (Grows in hardiness zones 2 to 8.)
The natural range of spruces is the Northern Hemisphere, where these trees occur in boreal and cool-temperate climates. These climates are common at high altitudes on the slopes of mountains and at high latitudes towards the north, south of the arctic tundra.
Spruce also has some disadvantages. For one, it is not very durable and cannot be used for outdoor applications. It also needs constant care and high maintenance. Spruce is prone to insect attacks and cannot be in contact with the earth, which is why it is not preferred for flooring.
Pinus glabra, Spruce Pine
Growing in full sun on moist fertile soils, this North American native will also tolerate poor, dry soils, as well as wet sites better than other Pines. Trees are very tolerant of urban conditions and have survived and grow well along streets. Trees are naturally found south to Alachua County.
Growth and Yield- Blue spruce is apparently a long-lived tree, surviving up to 600 years or more. Diameter growth is slow; trees 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in) in d.b.h. may be 125 to 135 years old; at 46 to 56 cm (18 to 22 in), they may be 275 to 350 years of age (84).
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.
Spruce trees range in height from about 50 to 150 feet (15 to 46 meters). Like many evergreens, spruces have a pyramid shape and short, fragrant needles. What makes spruces unique is that each needle grows out of the branch from a strong, woody peg.
Do spruce trees need a lot of water?
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.
These majestic evergreens thrive when planted in locations with ample sunlight. Most spruce tree species prefer full sun exposure, whether it's the Colorado spruce, Norway spruce, or Blue spruce. This means they should receive direct sunlight for at least six hours daily to promote healthy growth and vibrant foliage.
![Where can spruce trees grow? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jMsrf8uLhdk/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLDEE21IFrrvsFvL0nKa3dAYmFzzNQ)
These evergreens are favored for their pyramidal shape, attractive color, straight trunks, attractive bark, and the regular horizontal arrangement of their branches. How far from the house should a spruce be planted? Full-size spruce trees should be sited at least 25 feet away from a house.
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.
A spruce tree grows best in a location with moist, well-drained soil made fertile through soil amendments. However, this tree can adapt to loamy, sandy, or clay soils. As for soil pH, spruce thrive between 6.0 and 7.5, but its unfussy nature allows this tree to tolerate highly acidic or alkaline soils.
White spruce grows well in a wide variety of site and moisture conditions. It grows best on well-drained, moist fertile soils. It doesn't grow well near stagnant water. White spruce can tolerate a considerable range in soil pH, from 4.5 to as high as 7.5.
Untreated spruce reacts less to ultraviolet light than pine. “Pine becomes darker than spruce when exposed to light. Spruce may be a good choice if you want to keep the surface untreated. With the proper surface treatment, the colour changes can be minimised effectively.
Norway Spruce is the most disease resistant spruce and is affected by few insects, and none serious, such as mites and spruce bud scale. The spread of southern pine beetle locally onto Norway spruce is a concern. Needlecast can cause lower branch dieback.
A coniferous tree which does shed its needles, the larch, was found to do best at absorbing particle-bound PAHs. That said, all of the deciduous trees came in next at doing so – this is likely because their broad leaves present more particle-trapping surface area than the thin needles of spruce, fir and pine trees.
Yeah, Colorado blue spruce (and certainly englemann spruce) does not have a chance at surviving more than a couple years in FL. Not (even remotely close to) enough chill hours, even in the panhandle.
What tree can you not cut down in Florida?
Did you know some trees are protected by law? That's right! Mangroves, sea grapes and some wetland vegetation are protected by statute in order to protect Florida's shores and water resources. Other trees such as large oaks may be protected by your local municipality.
Fall is the best time of the year to plant evergreen trees in Florida. Evergreen trees can also be planted in winter and spring in Florida. Summer is not a good time to plant trees in Florida. This time of year can be very hard on newly planted trees.
- Rowan (sorbus aucuparia) ...
- Beech (fa*gus) ...
- Silver Birch (betula pendula) ...
- Hazel (corylus) ...
- Tulip Tree (liriodendron tulipifera) ...
- Weeping Willow (salix) ...
- Eucalyptus.
This spruce tip came from a spruce I prune every two years to keep it 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Its growth rate is about 18 to 24 inches per year so I remove at least 3 feet of leader each time I prune it, and tie in a side branch as a new leader.
There are three principle types of diseases that affect blue spruce trees: needlecasts, tip blights and canker diseases. All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem.
References
- https://www.mossyoak.com/can-you-plant-trees-in-winter-record-straight
- https://www.plantingtree.com/collections/florida-evergreen-trees
- https://blog.davey.com/winter-watering-for-evergreens-what-you-need-to-know/
- https://blog.davey.com/do-i-have-a-blue-spruce-tree/
- https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/tree/spruce/
- https://www.planetnatural.com/spruce-tree/
- https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/spruce/353803
- https://www.montana.edu/extension/carbon/documents/ygspruce.pdf
- https://cameroontimberexport.com/spruce-wood-properties-types-and-uses/
- https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/englemann-colorado-blue-spruce-cold-reqs.32693/
- https://www.plantingtree.com/blogs/gardening/trees-to-plant-in-winter
- https://www.mrt.com/lifestyles/article/Winter-is-best-time-to-transplant-trees-and-shrubs-7457545.php
- https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/picea/pungens.htm
- https://www.greenthumb.com/blue-spruce/
- https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_is_spruce_decline_and_what_should_you_do_about_it
- https://www.arborday.org/programs/nationaltree/spruce.cfm
- https://www.britannica.com/plant/spruce
- http://www.lrconline.com/Extension_Notes_English/pdf/wht_sprce.pdf
- https://treenewal.com/can-i-plant-trees-in-winter/
- https://www.royalcreationslandscaping.com/2021/11/30/water-in-the-winter/
- https://www.bartlett.com/resources/tree-species/norway-spruce
- https://www.plantingtree.com/products/norway-spruce
- https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pages/pingla/pingla.shtml
- https://floridadep.gov/Trees
- https://blog.davey.com/when-do-tree-roots-grow-the-most/
- https://newatlas.com/environment/mix-trees-airborne-pollutants/
- https://jsenterprise1.com/how-to-grow-colorado-blue-spruce-trees/
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/plants/plants/spruce
- https://www.windbreaktrees.com/norway-spruce
- https://www.thespruce.com/colorado-blue-spruce-trees-2132082
- https://canopy.org/tree-info/caring-for-trees/protecting-trees-from-freeze/
- https://savvygardening.com/best-time-to-plant-trees/
- https://bioadvanced.com/tree-care-prepping-new-trees-winter
- https://www.northamericantree.com/blog/2019/2/5/whats-the-best-time-of-year-to-transplant-trees
- https://honka.com/en/blog/2022/08/29/faq-pine-or-spruce/
- https://blog.davey.com/bare-root-tree-not-leafing-out-heres-how-long-it-takes-to-grow/
- https://mrmaple.com/pages/norway-blue-spruce-general-care
- https://blog.davey.com/how-to-protect-newly-planted-trees-from-frost/
- https://blog.davey.com/can-you-plant-trees-shrubs-or-evergreens-in-the-winter/
- https://www.yourleaf.org/blog/jess-wilkin/mar-23-2021/transplant-shock-helping-your-tree-recover
- https://www.rootsplants.co.uk/blogs/features/8-fast-growing-trees-for-your-garden
- https://grobigred.com/2020/07/21/freeze-damage-to-spruce/
- https://www.gardenatoz.com/what's-up!/this-week-in-our-gardens/dwarfs-cut-to-size/prune-to-keep-a-tree-small/keep-tree-small-unabridged/
- https://kiwinurseries.com/transplanting-spruce-trees/