how often should i water my dwarf alberta spruce

Dwarf Alberta Spruce care tips

• Place Dwarf Alberta Spruce where it will receive direct sun for 6 hours.
• Water it when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry
• Plant Dwarf Alberta Spruce in light, fast-draining soil with a pH of 5.0-7.0
• Trim the spruce in the spring or fall to give it the desired shape
• Fertilize Dwarf Alberta Spruce 1-2 times per year with a balanced fertilizer

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How often do I water my Dwarf Alberta Spruce?

Water. Water dwarf Alberta spruce when the top 3 inches of soil is dry. If you keep this plant in containers, water it more often than you would water in-ground plants. These plants do not like soggy soil, so beware of overwatering.

How do you take care of a Dwarf Alberta Spruce?

Dwarf Alberta spruces will grow in full sun to partial shade. Plant it in well-drained, consistently moist soil. If planted in a container, water when the top 3 inches of soil is dry. Once the plant is growing outside, one problem you may run into with this plant is spider mites.

Why is Dwarf Alberta Spruce turning brown?

A dwarf Alberta spruce that's turning brown at the top is telling you there's a problem with the trunk or the roots. Check to see if weed whackers have sliced the trunk, or animals have chewed the bark. If most of the bark is gone from the base of the trunk, the tree will have to be replaced.

Can you over water Alberta spruce?

If you water Dwarf Alberta Spruce too often or use too much water, the soil can become boggy. This is called overwatering. This will cause the root system to become very soft and suffer from a lack of oxygen. Such roots are very prone to rot.

Do Dwarf Alberta Spruce need full sun?

The growing season for dwarf Alberta spruces is late spring and summer, so it's best to plant your tree before it begins to grow young shoots or new roots. They prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

How quickly do Dwarf Alberta Spruce grow?

2 to 4 inches a yearDwarf Alberta spruce grows just 2 to 4 inches a year.

Can you bring a dwarf Alberta spruce back to life?

They especially like the dwarf Alberta spruce mini-trees that are very popular. Once mites brown out enough needles to kill branches, spruce usually never recover. That's because this species doesn't produce dormant "reserve" buds toward the inner branches as do evergreens such as yews, hemlocks and boxwoods.

Will needles grow back on Alberta spruce?

Luckily, dwarf Alberta spruce is fairly resilient and will often recover with proper care. It's a cold-hardy perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 8.

How do you take care of a dwarf Alberta spruce indoors?

Water regularly, especially if your environment is warm. Just like Christmas tree needles that get dry and fall off, the dwarf spruce needs its water. A deep soaking is preferred to splashing water on it every day. In the winter when the plant is not in its growing season, water less.

What is killing my dwarf Alberta spruce?

Most commonly, dwarf Alberta spruce fall victim to spruce spider mites. These tiny yet extremely destructive relatives of spiders can quickly kill a tree. Since they're so tiny, mites are almost impossible to see.

How do you keep dwarf Alberta spruce small?

If you just want to shape your dwarf spruce, or if your tree is young and you want to trim it to keep it small, then you can prune with a good amount of success. Taking care not to cut into the dead zone, cut back any branches that extend beyond the tree's conical shape. Remove ½ to 1 inch (1-2.5 cm.)

How often should I water my spruce trees?

Spruce trees only require one day of water per week, which amounts to about 1 inch per week.

How do you protect a dwarf Alberta spruce in the winter?

Place the Alberta spruce in a sheltered location out of winter wind and sun. Or move the planters to a sheltered location. Insulate the roots by surrounding the containers with bales of straw or hay. Water whenever the soil is thawed and dry.

Can you grow a dwarf Alberta spruce indoors?

Short evergreen trees can live a long life in their containers indoors as long as the environment isn't too warm, and it's watered when the topsoil feels dry. Dwarf spruce tree care requires diligence to keep it healthy, and if you give it the appropriate attention, you'll be able to decorate it again next year.

Where is the best place to plant a dwarf Alberta spruce?

The Alberta Spruce thrives in full to part sun and adapts to any soil that is well drained. A neutral to acidic soil is best. If you know you have an alkaline soil choose an acidic fertilizer like Espoma's Holly Tone. After planting, adding a layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch will help keep the soil moist.

How do you keep a potted spruce tree alive?

How to Keep a Potted Dwarf Spruce AliveAvoid Areas of High Heat. North Carolina State University Extension warns to keep the tree away from heat sources, such as heater vents, fireplaces, ovens and television sets. ... Use Small Lights. ... Keep the Soil Moist. ... Provide Adequate Sunlight. ... Keep the Root Ball Moist. ... Watch for Pests.