Coniferous trees mostly grow in forests or on “fir tree plantations”, rarely in home gardens. There are also some types of spruce trees that grow beautifully, do not grow particularly large and can certainly enhance your garden.
How to plant a spruce in the garden?
To plant a spruce in the garden, choose small species such as the Sugarloaf spruce or dwarf forms of Norway spruce, plant in frost-free soil in a sunny to partially shaded location with moist, not too heavy or clayey soil and keep them Keep it moist until rooting.
Which spruces are suitable for the garden?
In principle, you can plant all types of spruce in your garden as long as you have enough space. However, small species such as sugarloaf spruce (bot. Picea glauca conica) or dwarf forms of red spruce (bot. Picea abies) are particularly suitable for gardens that are not too large. You will also come across the Serbian spruce (bot. Pinea omorika) relatively often.
The right location and the best soil
Spruce trees generally prefer a sunny to partially shaded location and slightly moist soil. However, this should not be too heavy or clayey. Spruces do not tolerate drought particularly well; Serbian spruce and Norway spruce are somewhat more tolerant than other species. It doesn't matter to the spruces whether the soil is slightly acidic or alkaline.
Planting
Spruce trees are shallow-rooted, so their roots grow wider rather than deep. Therefore, dig a sufficiently large planting hole and keep enough distance from the neighboring plants. If necessary, loosen the soil with a little sand or enrich it with compost.
Water the young spruce (approx. 20 cm tall) thoroughly before planting. After you have inserted the spruce, fill the planting hole with soil and carefully tamp down the soil. Watering well over the next few days will help with rooting.
The most important things in brief:
- for small gardens choose species that stay small
- Location: sunny to partially shaded, sheltered from the wind for tall spruce trees
- Soil: rather moist and not too heavy or clayey
- Planting time: anytime in frost-free soil
- after planting, keep well moist until rooting
Tip
If you plant a slightly larger spruce tree, then give it a support post to the side so that it doesn't tip over in the first storm.
