14 — Friday, August 10, 1990 - North Shore News HOME & GARDEN Give blue spruce ample room to grow MANY HOMEOWNERS often plant young spruce trees with little or no regard for how large the trees will be in just a few short decades. It doesn’t matter whether it be one of the much sought after blue spruce, or the one of the lesser- known white, Norway or Siberian spruce. All of these {which are hardy in virtually alt of Canada) will easily attain 12 to 25 metres (40-80 ft.) in height, with a spread approaching three metres (10 ft.) The popularity and beauty of the blue spruce seem to cause in- experienced homeowners to plant the small trees in areas where their growth will be restricted after only a few years. The difficulty comes in that there is almost no way that the growth can be restricted, unless the homeowner is willing to undertake a severe clipping regi- men on the new growth cach and every year. Since the latter does not happen, the most common scenario is for the larger lower branches to be chopped off in order to segain access to @ walkway, driveway, or the en- trance to the house itself. This is where the trouble for the trees begins. It is importante when planting not only spruce trees, but other large trees — whether evergreens such as fir and pine, or deciduous trees such as maples and oaks — that sufficient room be allowed for the trees to achieve their full growth. The Canadian Garden Council advises that an inquiry to your garden centre should bring a close estimate as to just what ultimate size the tree you have chosen may be expected to achieve in your area. By the way, if you are presently considering planting a blue spruce tree, there are several types avail- able. The most common is the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Glauca’). These vary in color considerably, and through SINGER $$SAVESS on the latest products from Singer SEWING MACHINES $199*>-$2399" SERGERS $429*5-$3899°° MAGIC STEAM PRESS $499°° 4°Step Tune Up- _ reg. $49°° Now $39%* ; ’ Save $10 =: $300 minimum trade-in on computerized machines only 1048 Marine Dr. 988-5503 the winter months, retain more of a green than blue color. It is gen- erally the most economical variety to purchase. The oldest of the ‘real blue’ blue spruces is Koster (Picea pungens ‘Koster’). Its major drawback has been a tendency to have a crooked main stem that needs to be staked upright for the first few years. The Koster spruce, though still very much available, has now been superseded by at feast two other varieties you may want to check out at your favorite garden centres: Hoopsi blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Hoopsii’) and Moerheim blue spruce (P. p. ‘Moerhcimi’). Both of these have a much better conical shape, straight main stem, and excellent silver blue needle color throughout the entire year (although the color is at its best in June). A common habit of homeown- ers, once a spruce achieves a large size, is to remove the lower bran- ches. Often this is done to ac- commodate access around the tree because it was planted too close to a walk or driveway. But some- times, it’s done just because it’s thought to be the ‘thing to do."’ The North Shore News invites North and West Vancouver business people to visit our booth at the Advertiser's Warehouse. We hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity to learn FE ONCE OF HORT AND WHS? VANCOUVER SUNDAY © wEUNTSDAY = ay 1139 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver Display 980-0511 Classifieds 986-6222 more about advertising. Even many professional ‘‘land- scapers’’ are guilty of this ‘‘sin.”’ If this pruning up sin can be avoided, it should be at whatever the cost. According to the Canadian Garden Council, one of the prob- lems that affect older spruce trees is a canker disease known as Cytospora. It occurs generally on older branches at the interior of the trees. One of the best methods of avoiding the disease is to keep older trees in a healthy state. An important way of doing this is to ensure that all of the lower bran- ches remain on the tree, removing only dead or dying limbs. It is likewise important to leave all of the old needles, which an- nually fall from the tree, beneath the branches. This material acts as a natural mulch both keeping the surface roots cool and moist, and maintaining an acid soil condition which the trees prefer. The canker disease is most casi- ly noted on the interior branches near the trunk where exudations of sap with a white cottony ap- pearance are evident. 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