its all in the buds for next year .... if those remain tan color and hard.. the branch should recover... if those go soft and black.. odds are low .. ... whether or not a specific needle remains is a mystery let to time ... all needles are lost within 1 to 3 years generally .... if you look inside.. you will see bare branches ... water PROPERLY .... check the buds.. and wait good luck ken

The Bizon Blue came from Northcutts. He's a wholsaler on I-35 south at about 29th. I have a license so I can shop there. He's not really wholesale - more like 2/3 retail. But he keeps great large stock for landscapers. Last year I got an 8' Picea omorika 'Pendula' from there for $110 and love it. This year several nurseries brought in what they define as Picea pungens 'Glauca', which really means generic Colordo Blue. They tend to be more green than blue, but they are usually cheaper than the other blues and they hold up well in our climate. I've seen them this year at TLC and Home Depot. I know you also bought some trees from Sorghum Mills. He brought in several big blues last November from two nurseries. I know from your previous posts one or two of yours came from there. What might be a good option would be to wait until late summer and go back out there. If he's got any big blues still in stock from that load that have taken 2 summers here sucessfully, then you know your odds are good on survival. But regardless, TLC, Home Depot and Sorghum Mills all have 1 year guarantees now. mark

There are also some nice large-ish trees a bit further south in Buckhead. Again, it can be done, but the odds are not good. Many of the trees further north in the southwest mountains of North Carolina, where summer temperatures almost never rise above 85 F (and are usually in the mid to upper 70s) and steep slopes ensure good drainage - even those look ratty. Having said all of that, I have three P. pungens in my own garden. One has been in the ground for four years old and is beginning to show signs of stress, one is three years old and looks great, and one is less than a year old (I only have the latter because it was one of the ACS Conifers of the Year this year). I have lost three other blue spruce, and became a skeptic about this species in our region a while ago. I'm hopeful but not very optimistic (surprise, surprise) about the long-term survival of ones still alive. There is certainly nothing wrong with giving it a shot - I'm a huge fan of experimentation. But experimenting can be expensive and lead to disappointment if expectations aren't tempered. I agree with Sara (in addition to what everyone else has said in this thread) that 'Landscaping with Conifers and Ginkgo for the Southeast' is a great book. in my opinion, if you're going to be serious about conifer gardening in the southeast, you should own a copy.

i learned.. over time ... to enjoy watching the tree NATURALLY re establish a leader ... all trees do ... and they dont need any help from us ... the alternative is to look at stake and rope for 2 or 3 years.. trying to force it back .. and frankly .. you might be surprised how many times it sticks its tongue out at you.. and sets the leader it wants.. lol ... pungens is not one of the soft trees ... that will agree to be pulled back into some other form ... besides.. in tying it up... you will probably bleed .... lol .. and you will mar the needles that are there ... who wants to look at the stick .... its your new treasure ... just planted ... other than proper watering.. ignore it as far as dreaming up things to do to it ... do you know proper watering .... if not.. see link .. and in your ground freeze zone [i presume]... it might not need watering until june .. insert finger and FIND OUT ... no guessing ... mulching will help ... see link also ... ken https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub