| I just received Dwarf Alberta Spruce in February. How do I take care of it? |
| Dwarf Alberta spruce is a naturally occurring dwarf form of the Alberta white spruce. It has dense, bright green foliage and grows in a miniature compact cone shape, rarely more than 10 ft (3.1 m) tall, and usually stays around 3 ft (0.9 m) tall. It grows no more than 1-3 in (2.5-7.6 cm) per year. The evergreen needles are about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) long, slender and curved. They are crowded together and packed all around the stems like little bottlebrushes. Dwarf Alberta spruce is very slow growing even under the best of conditions. They appreciate protection from strong winds. All the white spruces tend to suffer from red spider mites, which can be controlled with growing season (summer) horticultural oil. For best growth, provide full sunshine and plenty of water during the growing season. The plant suffers during hot, dry periods so deep soakings once each week are beneficial. Dwarf Alberta spruce is hardy in USDA zones 2-8 but seems to do best in zones 5 to 7. Best wishes with your new plant! |
