Dwarf Alberta Spruce Care

Spruce are a group of evergreen coniferous trees, classified under the genus name Picea and belonging to the pine family, Pinaceae. Encompassing about 35 species, trees of the spruce genus may be dwarf or tall. The world's oldest living tree, Norway spruce is believed to be 9,550 years old. If you are looking for small conifer varieties with green foliage throughout the year, the dwarf Alberta spruce is an ideal choice. The needle shaped leaves are arranged in a dense manner, giving a fuzzy appearance.

Dwarf Alberta spruce trees, scientific name Picea glauca, are excellent varieties for growing in indoors as well as outdoors. However, for maintaining healthy spruce trees, it is best to grow them in garden soil (not in containers). Growing at a pace of 2 - 4 inch every year, the average dwarf Alberta spruce size is about 12 feet in height and 4 - 5 feet width. A feature characteristic of all spruce tree varieties is the pyramidal canopy shape. Hence, even if you have less time for pruning, it will automatically develop in a regular crown shape.

Care for Dwarf Alberta Spruce Tree

Dwarf Alberta spruce trees are best grown in zones 3 - 8. Despite the preceding name 'dwarf', it is still a tree and requires adequate room for development of the root system. Hence, to ensure healthy roots, consider repotting it in a larger pot at regular intervals. Mentioned below are some of the useful tips for dwarf Alberta spruce care and maintenance:

Transplantation Time
Since dwarf Alberta spruce grows slowly and remains short for several years after plantation, many hobbyists prefer growing it as a container specimen for indoor gardening. For planting in garden soil, you can transplant these trees during spring when the soil temperature is favorable to support roots.

Plantation Site
Dwarf spruce trees are usually planted as specimens in formal types of landscape design. Partly shaded area is the ideal site to plant dwarf Alberta spruce trees in gardens, though they can also tolerate full sun. When growing indoors, place them near doors and windows, but never besides radiators or furnaces.

Soil Requirements
Fertile, well-drained and slightly acidic soil are must for growing dwarf Alberta spruce trees. Accordingly, you can prepare garden soil or potting media. In case of heavy soil with a high percentage of clay content, supplement with adequate amounts of sand to ensure proper drainage.

Irrigation and Feeding Frequency
Water these trees regularly, at least once in a week during hot weather conditions. However, over watering will cause yellow coloration of foliage. Coming to fertilization, you should add an appropriate concentration of a good evergreen fertilizer twice in a year, one in spring and another dose in late summer.

Pruning Trees
As mentioned already, these trees grow very slowly, unlike other species of evergreen conifers. Thus, regular pruning is not necessarily an important step as far as dwarf Alberta spruce maintenance is concerned. Nevertheless, you can trim the spreading branches once in a year (preferably during winter) to give a desirable shape.

Disease Signs
If exposed to bright sunlight and long dry spells, your spruce trees can become prone to spider mite infestations. Look out for signs like whitish webbing between the twigs, browning leaf needles and death of the branches in severe infestation. If such is the case, remove diseased branches immediately and spray an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil over the affected parts.

Whether you plant them indoors or outdoors, keep a keen watch over dwarf Alberta spruce diseases and pests, particularly spider mites and aphids. If available, you can place two similar sized trees in the entrance to give a personalized touch to your home decor. When grown in attractive red containers, dwarf Alberta spruce trees also make a wonderful seasonal gift item.