Plant spruce in a hole twice as wide as the root ball, with the root flare at grade, and space it for the mature size of that kind.
Space to the mature size, and set the root flare at grade
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring or fall while you can water; containers any workable day | A midsummer drought you cannot soak |
| Hole | Two to three times as wide as the root ball, and no deeper | A tight, deep cup that holds water on the flare |
| Height | Root flare at soil level, or slightly high | Burying the flare |
| Spacing | The mature width on the tag — often 4 to 8 feet for nests, 20 to 30 feet for a species tree | A landscape spruce against the house |
| Roots | Tease or slice a circling nursery mass | Dropping a potbound ball into the hole as-is |
Landscape trees are often planted too close to the house. They overtake the view in 20 years. [1] Know the mature spread before you dig. [2]
How far apart should you plant spruce?
Use the mature width, not the nursery pot. Many nests want 4 to 8 feet. Norway and Colorado blue species trees often want 20 to 30 feet.
How to plant spruce
Work one hole at a time: confirm the habit, set the flare, space the plant, then water once.
- Confirm nest, cone, column, or landscape tree on the tag so the spacing matches the outline. If the tag is only a cultivar name, match it on Types of Spruce.
- Choose full sun and ground that drains. Raise or drain a wet pocket before you dig.
- Find the root flare. Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball, and no deeper, so the ball sits on undug soil. [3]
- Slide the plant out. Loosen circling roots with your hands or a knife. [4]
- Set the flare level with the soil, or slightly high if water sits after rain.
- Backfill with the soil you dug. Do not pile soil on the flare. Soak to the depth of the root ball. Keep the ball moist through the first season if rain fails. After that, watering is on How to Grow Spruce.
How deep do I plant a spruce?
No deeper than the root ball. The flare sits level with the soil, or a little high.
Start a species tree from seed
Named kinds are sold as plants. Seed grows a species tree, not a nest or a dwarf Alberta cone.
- Buy a nursery plant when you want a named cultivar.
- If you start a species tree from seed, sow in a mix that drains and keep it moist, not soggy, until it germinates.
- Cuttings are slow at home and often fail. A container plant is the usual first spruce.
Can I start spruce from seed?
A species tree can start from seed, but named kinds will not come true. Buy a nursery plant for a nest, a dwarf cone, or a named blue form.
What fails at planting
A tight, deep clay hole holds water on the flare. Soil piled on the root ball smothers the trunk. A landscape tree three feet from the foundation will hit the eaves. A midsummer plant with no water fails before the first dry spell.
If you buried the flare or parked a landscape tree against the house, reset the young plant now.
FAQ
Should I plant spruce in spring or fall?
Spring or fall while you can water. Skip a midsummer drought you cannot soak. A container plant can go in on any workable day.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] The Morton Arboretum -
https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/norway-spruce/ - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/picea-abies/ - [3] Colorado State University Extension -
https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/the-science-of-planting-trees/ - [4] Plant Addicts -
https://plantaddicts.com/spruce-tree-care/
This note is part of Picea Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors