Choosing the right evergreen tree for your home landscape requires some research and planning. To the uninitiated, most evergreens look alike when small but can vary greatly in cultural requirements, mature size and growth habit. A good example is the spruce. This majestic species can tower over 100 feet high or be compact enough to grow in a container. Because of the diversity in size, it is wise to make a choice governed by facts instead of just appearance.

Cold hardiness and the ability to withstand the somewhat erratic temperature changes of the Colorado Springs area are important as is the effect of drying winds and low humidity on some varieties. Consider also your garden soil. Spruce enjoy a moist but well-drained situation—no standing water, bog conditions or excess watering from a sprinkler please!

Think about where the tree is to grow, taking into account mature height and spread. Too close to a house, sidewalk, or driveway and those cute little trees become monsters, blocking desirable views or swallowing up your lawn area. Making an informed decision makes all the difference between a tree that gives pleasure or one that becomes an eyesore in later years.

The spruce is a beautiful Colorado native. Most commonly planted is the Colorado blue spruce (picea pungens) coveted for its rich sea green or silvery-blue needles. Common species grow up to 100 feet with a 20 – 30 foot spread. More compact varieties such as the "Bakerii" and the "Fat Albert" top out at 15 feet high with a 7 foot spread. Color can vary depending on the parent plants. Bluest of them all is the "Hoopsii" spruce reaching 20 – 30 feet high with a 5 foot spread and a slightly irregular habit. It makes an excellent specimen tree if given proportionate room to reach its full growth potential.

Two unusual forms are the "Fastigiata" and the "Globosa glauca." The former at 10 feet high with a 4 foot spread is perfect for smaller gardens or narrow spaces while the latter is a grafted tree, clear-stemmed, somewhat bonsai-like in appearance and ideal for garden or container planting.

Norway spruce (picea abies) have glossy, longer dark green needles. "Pendula", or weeping Norway spruce, is a dwarf form growing only 3 – 4 feet in height but with a wide sweeping width of 7 – 10 feet. It has an oriental appearance and fits well into rockeries or near water where its reflection gives twice the pleasure. "Nudiformis", or bird’s nest spruce, has a rounded, shrubby habit developing a depression in the center with age, hence the name "bird’s nest."

No less beautiful is the white spruce (picea glauca densata). "Black Hills" variety is a dense-needled, deep green tree with the traditional Christmas tree shape. Similar, but even more dense and compact is the dwarf Alberta spruce. At 6 – 9 feet in height with a 5 foot spread, it’s a slow grower making it ideal for large containers on a patio or deck. It can suffer in exposed location so site it carefully and offer protection from cold winter winds.

Generally spruce are disease and insect resistant, but some years can bring infestations of white pine weevil or Cooley spruce gall. Both can damage new growth, but neither are life threatening. A preventative spray of SEVIN insecticide in early spring is an effective control.

Well chose and well-grown spruce will give you pleasure and add beauty to your landscape throughout the seasons.

For any questions you have on this article, or any topic of concern, email us - or better yet, come by and talk to one of our professional staff members. Remember, Phelan Gardens is open year-round!