Alberta spruce are like Breville sandwich toasters in the UK - everyone's got one lurking in the back of a cupboard somewhere! :-) Basically can be a pretty boring tree all round. A Google image search reveals a couple of decent examples. http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=alberta+spruce+bonsai&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&start=0amp;sa=N I have one and broke the top off it and planted it in the ground as an experminent. Two years later it looks rather like this pic of a Joshua tree which in the right pot and soil with maybe a small cactus accent could work. Come spring I may try it for a laugh. Here is a link that might be useful:

It is very unusual to find a Dwarf Alberta spruce ( in my area) that large and that old. Unless the prior owner sprayed for mites. My guess is that the dead spots will not fill in for many years - if at all. Without a photo it would be hard to determine if there is value in keeping them. There are many other dwarf conifers that you could plant to replace these two and with much less problems. This is a great place to ask such a question - there will be many suggestions. Mike Here is a link that might be useful: my blog

Oh Ken what wonderful thoughts ~ spoken well, like a true dirt-digger & plant lover w/ sensible reservations!!! It won't reach 34deg 'til late this aft'noon so I decided to take this babe to my very cold laundry room w/ E windows (am so challenged to rescue from her threatened state) ~ tied the curtain, half way albeit shear, for same kind of light as where she sat in the fam. room window shelf. Also wrapped around her a clear cellophane to keep from anymore drying despite closed heat-vents & even gave her a tepid drink of tea. She should do ok better than my somewhat darker & colder garage. I figured if my nearly 12y/o Rosemary makes it there sitting by the 2nd E-window, baby Alberta should have no problem ... fingers xx'd for now!!! My Dau is not comming 'til Jun ~ hopefully both babies (Alberta & tree-form Rosemary) would have recovered to look decent & take their bows. Rosemary may not be a tree-form by then as she has lost much branches & will need a good hair-cut! Since my dau's move South she's been sending Hydrangeas to add to my collection ~ am now running out of real estate. My grand-dau knows that bird-houses to replace the old ones, are in my wish-list!!! Many thanks again Ken & bboy. Will keep you posted, Spring can't be too long now. My *Glory of Snow* has sprouted just before this last recent snow-storm ~ am wondering how they're doing under the ft of snow! Sigh!!!

Well then it becomes primarily a matter of what you are able to get in the desired size, with trying to get a particular previously selected kind becoming secondary - you may not be able to find big enough stock of what you have decided you want beforehand. Maybe look for what is in the size you want where you want to buy it and then come back and ask if people here think it would work for your situation.