Spruce Tree Transplanting Tips

A spruce tree grows lush and green all year long and can reach magnificent heights of over 60 feet. Growing these trees either by transplanting trees or from tree soil balls is not difficult, but this can also be accomplished in other ways as well.

Before you transplant find the spot in the lawn where you will want to plant the tree. Bear in mind how tall the tree will eventually grow and how deep and long the root system will be. Try to find someplace where it will have lots of room to grow.

Spruce Tree Diseases

Spruces are susceptible to such disease as the lirula needle blight, which turns the needles yellow or brown. Rhizosphaera is a fungus infection that also turns the needles yellow. Spraying the tree with chlorothalonil is usually effective in treating this sort of problem. Remember to keep the tree well watered, but with enough drainage so it is never standing in water.

Keep the area mulched and give the tree nutrients by placing fertilizer or manure near the roots. Never put the manure too close to the base of the tree. You will need to take extra care after transplanting or planting up to 4 years to give the tree the best chance possible of reaching maturity.

Here are some tips that will help you transplant a better spruce tree.

Tip 1 – Choose a Place with a Good Amount of Sunshine

Spruce thrives in good sunshine. These are trees that compete for sunlight in the wild and hence grow as tall as they possibly can. In the absence of direct sunlight, their growth can even be stunted. You have to make sure you select a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day and plant your spruce there.

Tip 2 – Transplant Your Spruces Away from the House

This is an important and often-neglected point. The roots of the spruce can go deep into the ground in search of water and they can become quite strong. The trees themselves can grow as high as 60 feet and can occupy a horizontal space of 15 to 20 feet. That is the reason you need to plant these trees as far as possible to save from possible interference from the tree to your house and weakening of its foundation by the roots.

Tip 3 – Don’t Overwater or Transplant too Deep

Though there are no specific sizes on how deep you must transplant your spruce tree, make sure that you don’t transplant it too deep. Also, you mustn’t overwater these naturally hardy trees which can make do with a little amount of water. If any of these conditions happen, the tree may turn an ungainly shade of brown and look almost dead.

To check the right amount of moisture in the soil when you are transplanting your spruce, you can dig a deep hole into the ground and check the ground water level in it. The most ideal condition is when the soil is moist at about 8 inches in depth.