Discussions

Hello everyone,  
I want to plant the spruce tree in my front lawn.  
But I don't really know much about the tree.  
What are the pros and cons of this tree?  
 
Thanks for your contributions.

cons:they are slow growing, drop needles and cones causing soil to become acidic, kills grass underneath  
shallow root system  
Pros: always green, can be shaped and kept relatively  
low in height if one puts time into doing this

we just had ours cut cut down. It was a Scotch Pine (I think) with very long needles.  
 
From July to Sept. I spent almost everyday raking needles. I didn't want then blowing in the neighbors yard, they dropped into the flower beds and they were just a pain in the a__ mess.  
 
Will try add a picture.

Hate mine. It draws so much moisture. The grass underneath is toast!

We just paid a lot of money to have ours taken out. They were dying as the roots are close to the surface, were probably under the driveway and being driven over. They are green all year long which is a plus. But very messy. Always having to clean up needles, cones etc. Our they have sap are very sticky which was all over our patio and furniture, hot tub cover etc, dogs feet. High winds will blow the needles and cones into neighbors yard. As they age they have a lot of dead dry branches which are not that pleasant to look at.  
Personally not a fan.

I like spruce. Green year round. I think the posters complaining probably had 25 35 45 year old trees. That's when they are a problem. If you plant a 6-10 ft. tree you could enjoy it for years. Get a Colorado or a Black spruce.

I like spruce too, but don't think it is a good idea to plant the large varieties (like the above poster suggested) in a place where it could be a potential problem down the road for you OR someone else. If you have a large one, don''t plant it in a small yard, close to a sidewalk or foundation or under a powerline.  
 
Many people buy a "cute" tree and forget (or don''t care) that what they chose will most likely grow large and potentially cause a future homeowner problems. Be mindful of that.  
 
You can always look for a dwarf variety. Keep in mind both the mature height & width where you want to plant it. The key is make sure that the mature tree will have enough space.  
 
Here are some suggestions:  
 
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/types-blue-spruce-shrubs-56130.html  
 
https://www.thespruce.com/twelve-spruce-trees-and-shrubs-3269669  
 
http://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/small-space-gardening/top-10-dwarf-conifers/  
 
Edited by Flutterby, 2017-05-28 16:34:46