Can Norway spruce be grown from seed?
Nursery grown Norway Spruce tree You can sow seeds into a flat or individual 4-inch pots that have been filled with a soilless seed starting mix. Cover the seed very lightly with the mix; if you bury them too deeply they may not germinate.
How long does it take to grow a Norway spruce from seed?
one to three weeks
The seeds require no supplemental water during the normally rainy winter and spring months, although they should be watered to a depth of 3 inches if no rain falls for longer than two weeks. Healthy Norway spruce seeds will germinate in one to three weeks once daytime temperatures reliably top 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do you get Norway spruce seeds?
Spruce seeds are found between the scales of the cones. Once the cones have dried thoroughly, they will fall out easily. In nature, the cones fall and release seeds, or they are shaken out by wind, or distributed through bird and animal activity. Shake the cones and collect the seeds.
How do you grow spruce trees from seed?
To stratify indoors, mix the seed with a moistened, sterile, peat based growing medium in a container, wrap in a ventilated bag, and place it in a refrigerator for 12 to 20 weeks. In the spring plant the seed in a sheltered spot outside to grow into seedlings. Transplant to permanent site when well rooted.
How do you plant Norway spruce seedlings?
When planting a Norway spruce, dig a hole twice the width of the depth of the root ball or container. Remember to always plant shallow rather than deep, you are planting the roots, not the trunk. Water the roots profusely and add three to four inches of organic mulch to help preserve moisture.
Do spruce seeds need stratification?
Stratification for pine and spruce is a fairly easy process. The seeds have mild internal dormancy. Soak the seeds in room temperature water for two days (change the water after 24 hours) place in moist sand in a clean plastic bag and store at 35-40° Fahrenheit. The bag should be loosely tied.
How fast do Norway spruce grow?
2-3′ per year
The Norway Spruce is a fast growing (2-3′ per year) evergreen that has dark green needles that are 1 inch long, and can grow up to 5 ft a year in a good weather year. It never drops its needles but keeps them on for up to 10 years. Its branches extend to the ground, giving excellent wind protection.
How big are Norway spruce seeds?
2 to 7 mm
Seeds have an average length of 2 to 7 mm, and the size and quality of spruce seeds is generally determined by genetic factors, as well as climate and weather conditions [21,22,23,24].
Do Norway spruce seeds need stratification?
For germination the seeds require a period of moist pre-chilling also known as stratification before the seeds should be sown, this takes around 6 weeks in the fridge and is not difficult to do! Germination and after care information sent free with every order.
How do you start spruce seedlings?
Place seeds in a wet paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag and put in the refrigera- tor — not the freezer — for about six weeks. 5. Remove seeds from the bag and put them in a shallow dish with water just covering the bottom. Seeds should be moist but not covered by water.
How often should you water a newly planted Norway spruce?
Daily watering of newly planted spruce trees is only required for two to three days after planting. After that, normal rainfall typically provides enough moisture. Supply additional water during periods of drought. Spruce trees do not like being waterlogged.
How do you care for a newly planted Norway spruce?
The Norway Spruce thrives in full sun and adapts to any soil that is well drained. A neutral to acidic soil is best. After planting, adding a layer of 1 to 2 inches of mulch will help keep the soil moist. Do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk as this increases the chances of pests and disease.
When is the best time to plant a Norway spruce?
Choose a place to plant the Norway spruce: Don’t plant it too close to sidewalks, buildings or street right-of-ways. It’s best to plant the tree as soon as you bring it home from the nursery, but it’s important to avoid planting the tree during extremely dry weather and to give it at least six weeks to develop before the first frost of the season..
Why do I plant Norway spruce?
Norway spruce ( Picea abies) is a tough conifer that makes for an easy-care landscape tree in US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. It is also planted extensively for forest restoration and windbreaks . Planting a Norway spruce is easy because it competes well with grass and weeds and requires no site preparation.
Can You prune a Norway spruce?
New prune spruce branches back into nude areas where no needles grow. New tip buds will only rejuvenate from pruning cuts made on areas of branches that are cloaked in needles. Never “top” a Norway spruce. “Topping” is the harsh, blunt removal of the upper leader or general upper tip of the tree.
How to plant Norway spruce?
When planting a Norway spruce , dig a hole twice the width of the depth of the root ball or container. Remember to always plant shallow rather than deep, you are planting the roots, not the trunk. Water the roots profusely and add three to four inches of organic mulch to help preserve moisture.