Blue spruce unhappy

Discussion in 'Gymnosperms (incl. Conifers)' started by dicky5ash, Oct 15, 2021.

  1. dicky5ash

    dicky5ash Generous Contributor

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    This has been happy as Larry for 12months in a 42” x 24 x x18” galvanised tub.. now showing signs of distress..have kept it well watered. Any ideas please or does it just need to be rehomed?

    Rather than the normal conical shape this one is growing wide and not so tall with two leaders
     

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  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Poor color retention frequent with these
    in maritime climates
     
  3. dicky5ash

    dicky5ash Generous Contributor

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    Interesting..thanks Ron. As it happens I live in the middle of the U.K. it’s actually the furthest point from the sea in all directions. I have another one in a very large pot that’s now 7/8 foot tall, that one does not look sick but some of the blue is more greenish closest to the trunk..I think these are better suited to planting in the ground than pots long term!
     
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    The whole of Britain is a maritime climate in this context - the tree originates in Colorado etc., a thousand km or more from the sea.

    And yes, best planted out in the ground as young as possible, not more than 3 or 4 years old from seed.
     
  5. dicky5ash

    dicky5ash Generous Contributor

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    Ahh understood..Many thanks..missed the boat in terms of planting early
     
  6. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor

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    I imagine the amount of rain you get even if a distance (in UK terms) fr salt ocean is not appealing to your spruce

    We know them as Alberta Blue Spruce and they are big happy landscape trees in Edmonton Alberta

    They are common landscape trees on lawns in Okanagan BC too

    Very often they have been a live Christmas tree and end up in the backyard quite happy (as Larry? Is that an expression - I don’t know)


    One question - I don’t know about planting any flora in a galvanized tub (they are popular out here as garden cottage decoration) esp if no holes in it — which defeats original purpose of the tub — tho some barn finds hère are all rusted and full of gaps.
     
  7. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    It's not so much the amount of rain it gets in Britain, more the lack of contrast between the mild winters and cool summers of our oceanic climate; specifically, our mild winters don't kill the spruce aphids that damage Blue Spruce badly, and cool summers can encourage some fungal diseases. Where it comes from in the Rocky Mts in Colorado, it gets bitterly cold in winter, and quite hot in summer.
     
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  8. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor

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    I think as is often pointed out here on these forums —- i am using the common colloquial name for spruce

    So being Western Canadian - we’ve always called them Alberta Blue Spruce

    And from what I have seen online today - Colorado is correct

    I think it even has some official emblem recognition down there in CO

    Hère is one comparison — I cannot vouch for accuracy
    Blue Spruce (Colorado Spruce) vs Dwarf Alberta Spruce - TreeTime.ca
     
  9. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

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    Last edited: Oct 17, 2021
  10. dicky5ash

    dicky5ash Generous Contributor

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    Interesting to know and makes perfect sense, thank you.
     

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