skip to main content

Norway / blue spruce planting concerns

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hello,

I just planted six 6-7' Picea P Bakeri blue spruces this past Saturday. I noticed tonight, two days later, that on one of them, three of the tips are starting to brown. Perhaps coincidental, but this tree was much smaller than the rest.

They came burlapped. Farm/nursery grown. I planted them as I always do. I planted 9 Norway spruce last weekend and they all look great. I've planted many trees over the years and have lost more to mower blades than bad planting :)
Maybe transplant shock?

Any thoughts on what this could be? They were watered heavily upon planting and yesterday I gave them a few more gallons as its been in the mid 80s.

Planting height it fine, should be no air pockets, used terrasorb and a little bit of fertilizer. Good berm around and the root ball is not buried. I will mulch the spruces this week.

I included pictures and some of the tree itself. The rest of it appears fine.

Anyone know what this is?

Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
8 years ago
The 'small red buds' on your Norway Spruce are male cones. When mature in 2ish weeks, they'll produce lots of pollen.
ktmguy84 thanked Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
ktmguy84
Original Author
8 years ago
Awesome thanks! I was concerned because its the only spot on all nine Norway's that I have seen them on. Appreciate the help!
Related Discussions
2 Questions on Norway Spruce transplant and Blue Spruce color
Q
Comments (3)
cal ... do not buy the picea pungens .... wait until spring ... to verify its spring color .... the blue.. is a waxy coating.. its is prime.. the best ... at spring flush .. this is when you buy an unnamed variety ... if you want to buy now.. you buy a named variety.. [of which we can provide names and mail order places] ... and do to such.. there will be predictability of color .. as a waxy coating.. it wears off to some extent.. over the summer.. high heat.. rain storms... sprinklers.. just to piss you off ..... etc ... so they all dull up to some extent.. as summer rolls by ... if you look in the interior.. you will see 2 and 3 years old needles.. nearing the green color all needles are.. under the wax.. this is all normal .. regardless.. BUY A NAMED VARIETY ... even if you have to buy smaller and mail order ... and it will make your toes tingle.. too many peeps buy unnamed seedlings... which are kinda blue.. and hope they will be like the ones that make your toes curl ... odds are.. it wont be .... go for quality .. over the instant gratification of size.. pic below of my Picea pungens Hoopsi.. at spring flush.. showing its annual growth.. starting from a one gallon ... one foot turd ... ken it was a blue turd.. lol...
...See More
Norway Spruce question about planting inground or pot.
Q
Comments (13)
plant it at the depth it was grown in the original pot.. or in the field wherever it came from ... i dont know if he is right or wrong ... but why bother ... when this thing doubles.. or triples in size.. your thoughts today.. will be irrelevant .... and the larger branches will have come down.. there is this concept called gravity ... lol... and when its 40 feet tall.. like the one in my yard.. whether or not the first branch is one or two feet from the ground .... wont matter.. if you havent trimmed it up by then ... you got some real nice young trees there.. their only fault at this point is your expectation that a 2 year old tree would somehow.. be better ... my only expectation is that it lives for one year.. and that should not really be an issue.. unless you insist on screwing around with pots .. BTW.. your pot is a gallon or two to small for that tree ... and your media is wrong ... but you will solve both those issue soon enough .... and they should not be in the house until you can plant them ... ken
...See More
Questions, advice: Norway Spruce
Q
Comments (7)
TIA: You may be too far south for Norway spruce. These trees are very adaptable, but "nearly zone 8" with soil that doesn't sound ideal, may be stretching things a bit. You might want to try deodar cedars, or something else. But to answer your question. Typically, Norway spruce will become more or less established by the third year. Often they will make some good growth in the first or second year, depending on how they are planted and soil conditions. But another factor is the size. Very small seedlings will grow more slowly than larger ones, even after they are established. The rate of growth of Norway spruce seedlings, until they reach about 4 1/2 feet tall, depends on their height, and on their fulness/vigor. Of course there may be some exceptions. After they are about 4 1/2 feet tall, their basic growth rate will be established, whatever that is based on site factors and the genetics of the particular strain of NS you have. --Spruce
...See More
Ideal Privacy Spacing for Norway Spruce and Blue Spruce in Zone 5A
Q
Comments (4)
Depending on your location Picea pungens may not be the option for a long and healthy screen due to the needle diseases they are subject to in humid climates. Replace with Picea omorika. My Picea abies screening is 18' on center. Picea omorika ranges from 13 to 15' on center.
...See More
wisconsitom
8 years ago
Do as ye wish, but fertilizing at time of planting is not a recommended part of tree installation. If very moderate, probably no harm done, but tree roots actually grow faster in low-nitrogen soil environment. I'm not a fan of "terrasorb"-like products for this usage either. More than I want to go into here right now, but very funky stuff can happen with those items. Don't unplant just because I said that, but I sure wouldn't use in the future. As a root dip-to keep moist on the back of a truck or something-fine, but that's the very fine grade, not the larger particles suggested to be added to soil.

I tried terrasorb heavily in a bedding plant and container situation in 1990/1991! Never went back, as it did not materially affect the frequency of need for watering. If it didn't work (and was expensive and may harbor pathogens) why use?

+oM
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
tip browning does NOT happen in days ...

its either winter damage ... or damage related to digging the ball and burlaps.. perhaps weeks/months ago ... you arent quite clear if they were dug upon sale ... or were in stock ...

water when they need water.. CHECK ... dont guess ...

a well watered plant at planting.. should not need more water a few days later .. because it was hot out ... it wont matter in my high draining sand ... but if you have poor draining soil.. its not good to keep drowning the plant ...

one problem with BB stock... is some plants simply get their roots slaughtered in the process ... so if you planted 15 plants and one has a problem.. that is within the odds of such ... only time will tell ...

and you should have a good indication when it finally buds out ...

ken

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Picea Abies ‘Nidiformis’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Bird’s nest spruce pulls its weight in the winter garden by providing structure and interest

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The 7 Best Plant Types for Creating Privacy and How to Use Them

By Falon Mihalic

Follow these tips for using different kinds of plants as living privacy screens

GARDENING GUIDES Grow Your Own Privacy: How to Screen With Plants and Trees

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Use living walls to lower your home and garden's exposure while boosting natural beauty in your landscape

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Retreat to the Shade of Hardy Catalpa

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Big foliage and a towering height provide a shady respite in summer, but that's not all hardy catalpa offers dedicated gardeners

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Larix Decidua ‘Pendula’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Soft, graceful and sculptural, weeping larch is a star in northern U.S. gardens

SAVING WATER Great Plants for Lush, Low-Water Gardens

By Christine Tusher

Water restrictions making your garden look washed out? Give it living color with unthirsty grasses, flowers and succulents

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 5 Savvy Fixes to Help Your Home Sell

By Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

Get the maximum return on your spruce-up dollars by putting your money in the areas buyers care most about

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Get Along With Less Lawn — Ideas to Save Water and Effort

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Ditch the mower and lower your water bill while creating a feast for the eyes with diverse plantings and gathering places

EARTH DAY ‘Terroir’ Brings a Sense of Place to Your Landscape

By Susan J Tweit

Species native to and characteristic of your region firmly root your garden and landscape

Sponsored

More Discussions

crazy weather :-(

24

Table Mnt pine male cones

15

Sudden Globe blue spruce death?

2

Ponderosa pine Montana champ

4

Old and big Virginia juniper in MD

5