Looking for dwarf spruce suitable for foundation corner of house
WendyB 5A/MA
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (12)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years agoRelated Discussions
BlbuNkue spruces in backyard close to homes foundation,ok for dec
Comments (1)Reason your patio looks like an "eyesore" is there are no plants around it, it's just there. A low hedge or just a couple of attractive shrubs on the end that is narrow-to the left in the pic. If that doesn't appeal to you some flowers along the house with place to step off the patio to go around that side of house with couple of shrubs more toward corner of the patio, idea is to make it like a room, right now it is missing the "walls" so few plants could give illusion of walls, maybe repeat with 2 shrubs on side toward swing set but don't block the swingset off want to be able to see your kids. Lower shrubs or grasses to anchor that corner & make it seem more like a room. If your wife gets shock type allergy symptoms you might do well to get an electric bug zapper out there or she should put repellent on before going out. Decks are lot of work & expense & need to be redone every few years. You just need to "dress" the patio you have! It's like a bedroom with nothing but the bed in it. Needs some furnishings (plants) to finish the look. Good Luck!...See MoreBlue Spruce Tree close to house foundation
Comments (13)12 year old post, and still no good answers. Wow. OK, so reviving this for those who follow. I live in an area known for Blue Spruce trees (Colorado). Not offering expert advice here, but I will provide some observations from 50 years of living with these trees: 1) We plant Blue Spruce trees very close to houses in this area. By "very", I mean a few feet from the house. In 50 years of living here, I've never heard of anybody having foundation problems due to a spruce tree being too close (other trees, yes). Not saying it's not possible, but 10 feet away is not going to be a problem. 2) Healthy Blue Spruce trees don't come crashing down, nor do they shed big limbs. Even very heavy spring snow tends to damage other trees, while the spruce trees weather it just fine. Unhealthy / dying trees should be taken down. 3) In mountain communities, people build houses surrounded by spruce and pine trees -- again often just feet from their houses. And again, people are not chopping down these trees due to fear of foundation problems. Some smart folks do start felling them for fire mitigation, but that is a different subject. 4) We personally have 2 Blue Spruce trees right next to our house, both of which were planted many years before we moved in. They are at least 25 years old, towering above our house. No foundation or basement damage has occurred from these mature trees. Keeping the gutters clean is a pain, and we have to be sure limbs are kept off the roof to prevent damage to shingles. 5) Blue Spruce trees do get big -- so if you don't want a big tree in your yard they are not for you. 6) Grass under the tree will typically die out or be very thin, unless it is a kind that tolerates shade and soil conditions created by the trees. However, some ground covers (like vinca minor) will thrive and are a nice compliment....See MoreNeed help w/ Dwarf Alberta Spruce!
Comments (13)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!!!...See Morehelp with Dwarf Alberta Spruce (I think that's what it is)
Comments (14)AL! You found me!!! I'm so happy. Thanks very much for responding. Yes, I can absolutely be patient and 3 or 4 years will be more than fine with me if I have an end result even half as cool as your blue spruce. To the rest of you, I absolutely appreciate your input also. Being a beginner at all this,I am fully aware that I might not be able to achieve the results I want, just because another who happens to have a world of experience, did. But I'm willing to take the chance for several reasons. 1) the tree, while admired maybe by many, is expendable to me. If it doesn't work out, I can just remove it. 2) I have all the time in the world. We plan to raise the kids in this house. 3) most importantly-- Al's globe blue spruce is actually what led me to gardenweb in the first place! I joined last year bc of some plumbing issues but never even checked out any of the garden areas. Then a few weeks ago I was googling all kinds of conifer stuff and came across what I thought was the coolest little mini-tree ever, in one of the coolest gardens ever, and I tried emailing the dude who posted it all... and he actually emailed me back. Pretty exciting if you're me, which I am. Hehe. So if Al says I could give it a shot, then by golly I am going to give it a shot. I've got nothing to lose really except some time. But at worst I'm sure I'll learn a thing or two along the way-- like the best ways to not get needles in my arms, Ken : ) so even that couldn't be wasted. Ok so now Al, can you recommend a method to start this process? I'm more than happy to get a book if you have one you can recommend-- I don't want to burden you any more than I have to. I know in your email you mentioned taking the top off your spruce-- is that something I should do too or is it too late for that? I know I said she's expendable but I'd obvioulsy like to do whatever in my power to avoid that. Also on another note, isn't there a way that I can click on a members name and see all their posts? I can't seem to find a way to even see *my own* without going back into each forum and finding my post somewhere in the list. As I spend more time on here, that is going to get very difficult. And I'd really like to see more of what you've all written/posted, both for inspiration and to gather more info and even to just have fun looking at all the beautiful stuff. I'd love to see some of your hosta Ken, for example- I see it's your favorite forum. I love hostas but again, just a newbie. Thank you everyone and Al especially, for making my day : )...See Moreken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years agoWendyB 5A/MA
4 years agoMens Tortuosa(5b Omaha, NE)
4 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years agoHU-269531353
9 months agoprairiemoon2 z6b MA
7 months agoWendyB 5A/MA
7 months agoprairiemoon2 z6b MA
7 months agolast modified: 7 months agoWendyB 5A/MA
7 months agoprairiemoon2 z6b MA
7 months agolast modified: 7 months ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Skylands Oriental Spruce, a Favorite Conifer
Brighten up a drab corner of your garden with Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’, a smaller spruce that a bird family might just call home
Full StoryVACATION HOMESHouzz Tour: Scottish Farm Cottage Looks to Sun and Stars
A sheep field is home to a small, energy-efficient house that pulls ideas from mobile home design and raises the style level
Full StoryCURB APPEAL8 Twists on Foundation Plantings
Up your home’s curb appeal with house-side plantings that soften borders and add flair to your landscape
Full StoryLIFETrue Confessions of a House Stalker
Letting go when a new owner dares to change a beloved house's look can be downright difficult. Has this ever happened to you?
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Make Your Stone House Feel at Home in the Landscape
The right gate, walkway, garden furniture and, of course, plantings can help make the connection
Full StoryFUN HOUZZHouzz Call: Tell Us About Your Dream House
Let your home fantasy loose — the sky's the limit, and we want to hear all about it
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESOver-the-Top Sophistication in a Holiday Show House
Decadently designed rooms for all seasons and purposes create showstopping displays in a Manhattan mansion
Full StoryBEFORE AND AFTERSBasement of the Week: Surprises Around Every Corner
With a secret door, games galore and walk-out access to the yard, this Prairie-style basement in Minneapolis never fails to entertain
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Make Your Painted or Stained House Feel at Home in the Landscape
Use color and texture to create a pleasing connection between your house and garden
Full StoryMOST POPULARWhen Does a House Become a Home?
Getting settled can take more than arranging all your stuff. Discover how to make a real connection with where you live
Full StoryColumbus Area's Luxury Design Build Firm | 17x Best of Houzz Winner!
WendyB 5A/MAOriginal Author