How to Plant and Grow Spruce

Spruce shrubs and trees are conifers from the genus Picea, which includes 35 species. Spruce trees and shrubs are characterized by a branch structure, called a pulvinus, where the needles attach. This swollen area is left behind when a needle drops, providing a clear indication that the plant is a spruce. Unlike the clustered needles of pine trees, spruce trees grow only one needle per pulvinus.

Spruce trees are excellent trees or shrubs for landscape design. Their color variations and narrow, conical shape makes them natural punctuation specimens. They’re also popular choices for Christmas trees.

Where to Plant Spruce

Both graceful and boldly upright, spruce takes on many different shapes in the landscape. Choose an upright cultivar, such as a ‘Columnar’ Norway spruce, and plant as a living screen near a property line. Go with a cultivar with curved branches, such as a ‘Wells’ Weeper’ spruce as a statement plant in a landscape. The evergreen character of these small-to-large trees makes them year-round contributors to the landscape. Garden in a small space? Select a dwarf cultivar or a shrub cultivar.

The key to success when planting a spruce tree is to select the right growing site. Native to cool climates and dry air, spruce often languishes in hot, humid climates. Choose a planting site that has full sun exposure and rich, moist, well-drained soil. Spruce tolerates short periods of drought after it is established. Look for a planting site that has good air circulation. Anywhere with limited air movement has the potential to create a moist, humid environment that paves the way for disease.

How and When to Plant Spruce

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. Spruces need several months to develop a strong root system before a cold, dry winter sets in. Trees planted in fall are more susceptible to drying winter winds.

To plant a container-grown spruce, dig a hole twice as wide and one and a half times as deep as the container. Mix some compost into the original soil. Remove the tree from the container and place in the hole, keeping the top of the root ball at soil level. Backfill with soil and tamp down to remove air pockets. Water well and continue watering regularly during the first season after planting. Water as necessary during extended dry periods. Blanket the ground around plants with a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch to help conserve soil moisture.

Spacing requirements for multiple trees or shrubs will vary depending on type or cultivar. Consult your plant tag for proper spacing.

Spruce Care Tips

Light

Most spruce trees and shrubs prefer full sun, although a few species can thrive when protected from hot afternoon sun in the warmer reaches of their hardiness zones.

Soil and Water

A spruce grows best in moist, well-drained, loamy soil amended with organic matter, but it will adapt to clay or sandy soils, too. It’s not fussy about pH and can tolerate acidic, neutral, or alkaline soils.

Water spruce regularly and deeply, especially during the first year after planting.

Temperature and Humidity

Spruce trees grow best in cool regions—they can't tolerate hot, humid climates.

During cold weather, prevent winter burn by giving your spruce plenty of water in the fall (especially if you don't get much rain) so the roots can soak in the moisture before the ground freezes. Also, spread two to four inches of mulch around it, starting three inches from the trunk and going out to the ends of the branches. The mulch helps hold water in the ground longer, and it evens out the cold soil temperatures.

Fertilization

A balanced, slow-release fertilizer, applied in the spring, will give spruce a boost. For the application process and the amount to use, follow product label instructions carefully to avoid fertilizer burn; water well after applying. You can also top-dress around the root zone with compost.

Pruning

Spruce trees don't require pruning except to trim off dead or damaged branches. If you want to increase foliage density, prune off half of the growth tips (candles) in the spring.

Potting and Repotting Spruce

If you want to plant a spruce in a container (for a patio privacy fence, perhaps?), select a dwarf variety with a slow growth rate. Choose a large container because these trees resent transplanting. Use an all-purpose potting mix and choose a pot with good drainage. A heavy material such as terra-cotta will help prevent toppling but, in any event, site your potted plant away from strong winds to prevent drying. Keep in mind that potted plants, unlike plants in the landscape, require more frequent watering and fertilization.

Despite their hardiness in areas with cold winters, when grown in pots, spruce trees are exposed to the cold. As a protective measure, winterize the pots by sinking the container into the ground or place the container in a second, larger pot to create a planting silo that will insulate the roots from the cold. You can also move potted plants into an unheated shed or garage for the winter but don't forget to water it periodically.

Pests and Problems

If your spruce has yellow speckles or brown needles at its base or near the trunk, spruce spider mites are most likely the culprits. They primarily attack in spring or fall. But if you also see red on the trees, beneficial insects are already eating up the spruce spider mites, and you can let them get on with their cleanup work. If the beneficial insects are not on the job, suffocate the mites by spraying the entire tree with horticultural oil. 

Common across all types of spruces, but most prevalent on Colorado types, spruce decline is generally characterized by branch die back over a period of two to four years. Often visible on the lowest branches first, needles fall off and the plant takes on a thin appearance. By year three and four most of the low braches are dead. These symptoms have a host of insect and disease causes. A professional arborist or tree care company can diagnosis the specific cause and prescribe treatment. Not all spruce species decline, though. Many pests and diseases can be successfully treated.

The best way to prevent spruce decline is to plant trees on sites with conditions they favor. Full sun is essential. Good air circulation and excellent soil drainage is important, too.

How to Propagate Spruce

To propagate spruce, take stem cuttings in late summer or early fall. Fill pots with a part peat or coir and part sand mixture. Moisten the medium thoroughly. Cut 4- to 5-inch shoots at an angle from healthy stems. Remove the needles from the lower two-thirds of each cutting. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone and place the cutting into the planting medium. Firm the mixture around the stem and place in a cool, humid indoor spot with indirect light. Keep the potting medium moist and mist over the cutting regularly. It may take two to four months for the cutting to root. When it has (and weather has warmed in spring), move the pot outdoors to gradually harden off before planting it in the landscape.

Types of Spruce

Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Because of its small size and Christmas-tree shape, the dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica') is a favorite evergreen across many parts of the country. This cute little tree keeps its conical shape as it grows slowly (very slowly), taking 30 years to max out at 10 to 12 feet tall. Thousands of short green needles give it an almost fuzzy or fluffy appearance. Zones 3-5

Colorado Blue Spruce

Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) offers sharp, short needles in a range of silvery blue hues. A stately tree in the landscape, if grows slowly up to 60 feet tall. Give it room to spread out since its branches can stretch to 20 feet wide. Like most spruce trees, it needs regular watering to get established, full sun, and an annual dressing with compost. Zones 3-8

Norway Spruce

The Norway spruce (Picea abies) is a favorite Christmas tree variety. In the landscape, this reliably pyramidal evergreen grows rapidly at up to three feet a year and will reach 60 to 100 feet tall. Its dense foliage makes a great windbreak and offers protection for many species of birds. Zones 2-7

Garden Plans For Spruce

Corner Garden

This corner garden plan features several shrubs and trees that look beautiful through all four seasons. For example, the 'Pink Spires' crabapple trees flaunt rosy pink flowers in spring, followed by tiny ornamental fruits in fall that last into winter. And while the trio of dwarf dogwoods produces small white blossoms, these compact shrubs are perhaps most beloved for the fiery color their bright red stems bring to a winter garden. Best of all, this garden requires very little pruning or other care to thrive, other than keeping the plants well-watered during their first year.

Property Line Garden Plan

Situate the gently curving garden laid out in this plan along the edge of your yard to create a cozy feeling of enclosure, or if you already have a fence or wall, plant it in front of the structure to soften the look.

As long as you choose a location with full sun for the perennials and woody plants in this plan, they'll thrive without much care other than occasional watering. From summer into fall, you'll enjoy blossoms in soft shades of violet-blue and yellow, thanks to perennials like catmint, coreopsis, and yarrow, while the silver-blue and bright chartreuse-gold foliage of evergreen blue spruce and juniper draw the eye upward.