How to Grow and Care for the Dwarf Alberta Spruce

The dwarf Alberta spruce is an evergreen conifer with a classic pyramidal Christmas tree shape. This spruce tree variety is related to trees that grow 100 feet or taller. The most popular landscape idea for a dwarf Alberta spruce is for foundation plantings, used as a large shrub or small specimen tree all over America. This dwarf version grows very slowly—about 2 to 4 inches per year, and rarely exceeds 13 feet. The aromatic green needles are about 1/2 inch long.

The tree has a tight, densely-packed growth habit that gives dwarf Alberta spruce trees a "fuzzy" look. Unlike its larger white spruce cousins, the dwarf Alberta spruce rarely produces pine cones. This tree can live 50 years or more in the right conditions. It is commonly kept in containers as a young shrub and adorned with Christmas tree ornaments and holiday ribbons during the winter months. Read on to see how to care for a dwarf Alberta spruce.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce Care

A dwarf Alberta spruce grows best in well-drainedacidicsoil. These plants do not like soggy soil, so water only when the top three inches are dry. A dwarf Alberta spruce thrives in full sun and grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 6, but it is temperamental in the warmer zones 6 through 8. The dwarf Alberta spruce is best suited for a climate with cold winters and cool summers. It is native to North America.

Planting

Plant seeds in late spring or early fall. After a cold period and the temperature begins to warm, it triggers germination and new growth. The planting hole should be twice as wide as the tree's container and about 2 inches deeper. Water thoroughly after planting and cover the ground around the tree with a thick layer of shredded bark mulch. For the first year, water the tree weekly, saturating the soil to a depth of at least 3 inches. These plants can eventually outgrow asmall space, so avoid planting in a spot that cannot comfortably accommodate a 10- to 13-foot tree.

Light

The dwarf Alberta spruce needs full sun to perform at its best but it will tolerate some shade. Give these plants an eastern or northern exposure. Avoid planting where harsh winter winds or hot afternoon sun can burn them.

Soil

Grow dwarf Alberta spruce in moist, well-drained soil. It does best in soil that is slightly acid to alkaline in pH. These plants work well with regular potting soil with added peat moss. Cover with shredded bark mulch.

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.

Temperature and Humidity

Dwarf Alberta spruce performs best in areas with cold winters and cool summers. This plant does best in low-humidity environments. This mini tree requires good air circulation.

Fertilizer

Young plants respond well to mixing in a granular fertilizer around the tree's base once a year. For an organic alternative, try a natural fertilizer like fish emulsion. Mature trees require no feeding.

Types of Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Larger forms of white spruce can grow up to 100 feet tall and live for 250 to 300 years. The dwarf varieties can be used as container plants or specimen planting. Spruce trees are popular for providing year-round color in your landscape.

• Picea glauca 'Jean's Dilly': This shorter form of Alberta Spruce (up to 5 feet tall) has needles that are concentrated at the ends of each season's short stem growth and a distinctive twist to the needles.
• Picea glauca 'Rainbow's End': This type grows up to 10 feet tall with a second flush of growth in the midseason with yellowish-green to creamy yellow-colored foliage.
• Picea glauca 'Tiny Tower': Featuring an excellent pyramidal form with a dwarf habit that is perfect for smaller gardens, its dense, bright green foliage turns an attractive gray-green and is well-suited as a formal topiary. It will grow to reach 8-10 inches tall.
• Picea glauca 'Elf': This is a dense tree with thin, short needles. It is very slow-growing and is ideal in containers. It will grow to about 12 inches tall.
• Picea glauca 'Hobbit': This evergreen shrub is dense with small green needles. It can reach up to 2-3 feet tall
• Picea glauca 'Little Globe': This is a dense variety with tiny dark green needles and large buds. In maturity, it will reach 18-24 inches.

Pruning

Pruning is not necessary with dwarf Alberta spruce since it grows so slowly. Damaged branches should be removed whenever you find them. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring when new growth appears. Cut no more than 2 to 3 inches off the tips of the branches. You can keep a dwarf Alberta spruce small by trimming it into a topiary form when grown in a container.

Pruning Tip

Looking for the best pruners for your Alberta spruce? We tested over 10 top-rated pruning shears in our Lab to make sure your spruces stay happy and healthy.

Propagating Dwarf Alberta Spruce

You can propagate dwarf Alberta spruce from seeds or branch cuttings. The quickest way to propagate this plant is by using a 6-inch-long softwood branch cutting taken in late summer or early fall. Softwood branches are long and firm branches, and should not be hardened and woody. Here's how to propagate dwarf Alberta spruce via cuttings:

1. Gather sterilized pruners, potting soil mixed with peat moss and sand, a 3-inch pot, and a brightly lit location for the cutting to grow.
2. Strip the needles from the lower two-thirds of the branch. Dip the cut end into the rooting hormone to promote rooting, then plant it deeply into the soil.
3. Keep the soil moist until roots form. As a slow-growing plant, root formation can take up to 6 to 8 weeks. You'll know the plant is rooting when you notice some new plant growth. Once you notice new growth, transplant it into a larger pot or a landscape location.

How to Grow Dwarf Alberta Spruce From Seed

If you have access to a dwarf Alberta spruce tree, harvest seeds mid-fall. Spruce seeds grow in cones. Pick them young before they ripen. Extract the seeds from the cones by allowing the cones to dry out, open, and spill out the seeds. This can take up to two weeks.

Promote Germination Yourself

Some people like to scar or weaken the outer coating of the seed to promote germination. These seeds also need temperatures to cool and warm up to make the seed believe the winter season (and dormancy) is ending and the growing season is about to begin.

Starting Seeds Indoors

If you are starting your seed indoors, plant the seeds about 1/4-inch deep in a pot with moistened potting soil amended with peat moss and sand, wrapped in a plastic bag in the back of a refrigerator for about three to four months. Gradually warm up the seeds by moving the pot to a cool garage or basement or taking it outside, periodically hardening off over four weeks as spring approaches, and giving the plant at least six to eight hours of light.

Growing Seeds Outdoors

Alternatively, you can also leave the newly potted seed outdoors (sheltered in a non-windy area) during the winter months. The seed will enter dormancy and naturally acclimate to the warming temperatures when spring returns.

Potting and Repotting Dwarf Alberta Spruce

This tree is often grown in a container to use as a living Christmas tree. It can be moved outdoors in the early spring but needs to be hardened off by gradually exposing it to outdoor conditions.

A pot helps bind the root system. A pot-bound dwarf Alberta Spruce will grow slower and shorter than plants that have more room to grow. When repotting (usually every two to four years), make sure there is a 6-inch diameter available from the root ball so that it can be well-established. Use well-draining potting soil with ample drainage holes. These plants do not like overly wet soil.

Overwintering

If you keep this plant in containers outdoors, you will need to protect your dwarf Alberta spruce in the winter so it can survive. The biggest concern is the harsh wind chill that could permeate the potting container. To protect the plant's potted roots, plant the pot in a yard or move the plant to an area sheltered from windy conditions. You can further insulate the roots by surrounding the containers with bales of hay or straw.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Dwarf Alberta spruce trees are not very tolerant of air pollution and salt spray, and they struggle in areas with high heat and humidity. They require very little carebut are often the victims of spider mite attacks that can kill the tree. A yearly preventative treatment with a pesticide may prevent this. An organic alternative to a synthetic pesticide is weekly treatment with insecticidal soap.

Common Problems With Dwarf Alberta Spruce

This tree doesn't thrive in climates that have really hot, humid summers. If you live in a cooler area like the northern U.S. or Canada, this plant is much easier to grow. The biggest problem with a dwarf Alberta spruce is its need for plenty of air circulation to keep pests like pesky spider mites away. Do not crowd this plant.

Needles Turning Brown and Dropping

The dwarf Alberta spruce's needles will turn brown and drop if it gets crowded. If this happens, trim off the brown leaves. New growth may reemerge.

Excessive heat, winter burn from harsh winds or too much sun exposure, and too much water, or not enough water may also cause yellowing and browning. Adjust those conditions, if possible.

Spider Mite Infestation

Crowded conditions will also encourage a spider mite infestation. To check for mites, get a piece of white paper and shake the branches over the paper. If you notice insect activity, it is likely a mite infestation; they can appear as red, green, or black oval specks. Make sure the plant is not crowded, wash away spider mite webs and insects, and start treatment with an insecticidal soap weekly.

Browning Reaching the Trunk

Winter burn can occur during sunny winter days when the needles dry out since the branches and roots have very little access to water. The browning will appear lopsided, mainly at the south or west part of the plant where the sun is usually strongest.

To prevent winter burn, water the plant fully in the fall before the ground freezes so the roots can soak up the moisture before the ground freezes. Cover the ground at the tree base with 2 to 4 inches of mulch to reduce moisture loss.

If the entire tree turns brown, the plant is a lost cause. Replace it and start again with a regular watering regimen or a different sun exposure.

Browning at the Top of the Plant

If the top of the dwarf Alberta spruce begins turning brown, it is likely a problem with the trunk or the roots. Closely inspect the trunk to see if animals are chewing the base of the plant. If the bark is gone from the plant, the tree will have to be replaced. If the plant is getting too much water, its roots can be rotting or drying out, killing the tree and requiring replacement.

If you catch the problem soon enough and the plant is still small, you can dig up the root ball and inspect it. If you notice blackening, mushy roots, it has root rot. If you notice it still has healthy roots, you can try to save it. Cut away the diseased section of rotted roots with a sharp, sanitized knife. Treat it with an antifungal according to the directions. Repot it in fresh, well-draining soil in a sterilized pot.

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• Does a dwarf Alberta spruce tree need full sun?

  A dwarf Alberta spruce can tolerate partial shade, but it will thrive and grow best in full sun.

• What is the dwarf Alberta spruce's lifespan?

  A white spruce's average lifespan is over 200 years. Spruce trees, including this dwarf variety, are slow-growing, long-lived trees. It grows on average about 2 to 4 inches per year and can take about 30 years to reach its maximum size of 10 to 13 feet based on that rate.

• How deep is the root system of dwarf Alberta spruce trees?

  Because the dwarf Alberta spruce is such a small plant, it doesn't have very deep roots—around 12 inches deep—and they can spread to be as wide as the canopy.

From: thespruce