| hello, just recently i purchased a weeping norway spruce. i planted it in the front of my house. i'd like to put some rocks near or around it, could you tell me which rocks would look the best and how close i should put them. do these trees look better pruned or just let them go their own way. what other plants besides the ones your site suggests would look good near this tree. i like the mugo pine but what other small shrubs would go good also. thank you for any feedback you can supply sincerely vikki |
| This tree needs to be trained to a stake to keep it upright, then it sprawls outward and spreads along the ground almost like the long elegant train of a lady's gown. It can reach ten feet across, so be sure to allow it plenty of room. The natural shape is lovely, I would not recommend pruning it with the exception of tidying any broken or damaged branches. If you use rocks, use large sized ones and bury them partway so they look natural. Set them several feet away from the tree. Keep the ground around it mulched with several inches of organic mulch, this will help keep the soil moist and hold down weeds. The mulch will also help feed the soil slowly as it breaks down over time. Other plants to use with it would be a matter of personal choice and preference. Mugho pine is another evergreen with a slightly different color and texture, it too would look nice with large rocks. You might like to add something with bright red winter berries such as Ilex verticillata. This is a deciduous holly. Again, make sure you do not crowd the spruce. Your local professional nursery staff should be able to show you additional plants that might look nice with the tree. Enjoy your new planting! |
