- At maturity, spruce trees can be very large. A Colorado blue spruce, for example, can reach a height of up to 135 feet while its branches spread can be 30 feet. If you're looking for a smaller spruce, consider the white spruce, Sitka spruce or Norwegian spruce, all of which top off around 50 to 60 feet with a branch spread of about 20 feet. Some spruce trees also come in dwarf varieties.
- To create a dense, green privacy wall, plant spruce trees along the border of your property, 8 to 12 feet apart. A row of spruce trees may also be planted on the northern side of your house to help cut the cold winter wind and thereby reduce your heating bills. (Be sure you leave enough room between the trees and your house to allow for growth.) When grown as a single specimen tree, and a spruce tends to be taller and wider than trees planted in a group. Avoid planting spruce trees under utility lines, since the trees may interfere with the lines and may need to be removed or trimmed later. Also avoid planting them too close to your property edge, where they may overtake the sidewalk or street.
- It can be tricky to start spruce trees from seed, so it is generally recommended that you buy saplings to transplant. Look for trees with fresh green needles (although some varieties of spruce have a white or blue tint to them) and sturdy branches with no signs of disease or pest infestation. Most trees sold in nurseries and garden centers are balled and burlapped (B&B), although some are sold in soil in pots.
- Most spruce trees prefer full to partial sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Spruce trees need clean, pure air in order to thrive, and they may suffer if planted in a smoggy city or too close to a busy road. Spruce trees are best planted in the spring or early summer. Choose a cloudy, overcast day or plant the tree in the early evening to avoid stressing it with harsh sunlight. To plant a spruce sapling, dig a hole just as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Insert the tree into the hole, remove or loosen any burlap or string, and backfill with soil and compost. Water very well. Continue to water regularly through the first growing season. Spruce trees do not require pruning, although you may do so to promote thicker growth. The most common pests in spruce trees are spruce budworms and spider mites.
