Norway spruce is our native species of spruce, growing in natural conditions as a tall tree. In the gardens, on the other hand, we can plant various, interesting varieties of Norway spruce with limited growth, interesting habit or more resistant to unfavorable growing conditions. See what varieties of Norway spruce to choose for your garden and what the planting and cultivation of spruce in your garden looks like.
Norway spruce - Picea abies
Norway spruce - species description
Norway spruce(Picea abies) belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae.It is quite a large tree, growing up to 50 m in height, with a trunk diameter of 1.5-2 m. The bark of spruce is scaly. The shoots are brown in color, they may be slightly hairy. Spruce branches are covered with needles 1-3.5 cm long, dark green and prickly. Norway spruce produces large cones 10-20 cm long, they are pendulous.
Norway spruceoccurs in central and northern Europe. It is worth remembering that this is our only native species of spruce. In nature, it can be found primarily in mountain spruce forests and mixed forests of lower montane.
Planting and growing spruce
Norway spruceprefers fresh, clay-sandy soils, cool positions and not too dry and clean air. This species is not suitable for planting in dry sandy soils, in large cities, and especially in industrial areas, due to its high sensitivity to dust and air pollution. However, it is worth knowing that Norway spruce tolerates clipping well, so it is often planted on a spruce hedge, which is a very good wind and snow barrier.
Planting of Norway spruceshould be preceded by proper preparation of the planting site. It should be remembered that conifers, especially large ones, should be planted with a root ball, i.e. soil around the root system. Depending on the size of the spruce root ball, first dig a sufficiently large hole, which should be twice as large as the root ball itself. After digging the pit, the bottom should be loosened. When the pit is ready, gently insert the spruce roots into it and cover it with soil. The ground should be trampled well and watered abundantly. Any loss of soil resulting from compacting the ground should be supplemented until the ground is level with the ground.
Norway sprucecan be planted from spring to autumn, but it is best to plant spruce in the fall, when the plant goes into a state of dormancy or in early spring, when it has not yet woken up from dormancy. We plant until the first frost occurs.It is a bit easier with young spruce trees, most often garden varieties, which were grown in containers in the nursery from their youth.There is no fear of damaging the roots here, as in the case of seedlings dug from the ground, and the plants take on more easily. Container spruce trees can be planted without fear throughout the growing season - from spring to autumn.
Norway spruce - garden varieties
Norway sprucehas many varieties that are often planted in gardens as extremely valuable specimens. The varieties of spruce vary from large and tall to completely dwarf. It is worth remembering thatNorway sprucevarieties are more resistant to air pollution and have lower soil moisture requirements, therefore they are more suitable for planting in cities and home gardens.
Norway spruce 'Aurea'- a dense and conical variety of Norway spruce with the needles yellow. It looks best when planted singly as a solitaire. It grows up to 20 m in height after 30 years.
Norway spruce 'Barryi'- a slowly growing variety of Norway spruce, almost spherical in young years, more conical with age. Dark green needles, reaches 2 m in height after 30 years. Recommended for smaller gardens.
Norway spruce 'Cupressina'- an interesting narrow-columnar variety. Reaches 8 m in height after 30 years.
Norway spruce 'Echiniformis'- densely and slowly growing variety, reaches 0.4 m in 10 years. Recommended for rock gardens or containers.
Norway spruce 'Frohburg'- spruce variety with hanging habit. Reaches 2 m in height after 10 years. An extremely interesting variety, it looks best when planted singly as a solitaire.
Norway spruce 'Inversa'
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Norway spruce 'Inversa'- also a weeping variety, but much smaller than the 'Frohburg' variety. It reaches the height at which it was vaccinated.
Norway spruce 'Little Gem'- a strongly dwarf variety with an almost spherical shape. Norway Spruce 'Little Gem' is suitable for planting in rock gardens or in containers.
Norway spruce 'Little Gem'
Fig. depositphotos.com
Norway spruce 'Nidiformis'- a dwarf variety of Norway spruce, very popular. It has a nest-like habit with a characteristic hollow at the top. Reaches 0.4 m in height and 1 m in width after 10 years.
Norway spruce 'Nidiformis'
Fig. depositphotos.com
Norway spruce 'Procumbens'- an interesting form of Norway spruce, with a creeping form, after 10 years it reaches a height of about 0.2 m.
Norway spruce 'Virgata'- an unusual variety of Norway spruce. It is strange, with a loose habit with snake-like shoots that are almost unbranched. It grows strongly, after 30 years it can reach 15 m in height.The huge variety of spruce varieties means that almost everyone can choose something for their garden.
Katarzyna Matuszak
