Blue spruces are pretty large trees, and many gardeners make the mistake of planting them at a small distance from each other. In this article, you will learn all the necessary information about the proper placement of these trees.
QUICK ANSWER: You should plant a Blue Spruce at least 25-30 feet apart so it can develop properly. If possible, give it even more space to get better results.
| Name | Planting distance (center to center) |
| Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) | 25-30 ft (7.5-9 m) apart |
| Baby Blue Spruce | 10-15 ft (3-4.5 m) apart |
| Fat Albert Blue Spruce | 20 ft (6 m) apart |
| Hoopsii Blue Spruce | 20 ft (6 m) apart |
You can also follow the universal rule that the distance between a tree and any other object should not exceed the width of the tree’s crown at maturity.
How close to a house can you plant Blue spruce?
You can plant a Blue Spruce as close as 25 feet from the house, but no less. In this case, the tree will have plenty of room to develop. In addition, the roots will also have room to grow and absorb minerals.
Read also: How Much Sun Does A Blue Spruce Tree Need?
Can Blue spruce tree roots damage the foundation?
In theory, Blue Spruce roots could damage the foundation. But that’s if the tree grows too close to it.
However, it is unlikely to happen because the root system needs a lot of force to do damage. The tree’s crown must be huge to provide a robust root system.
What if you plant Blue spruce too close together?
If your spruce is growing too close to trees or other objects, you need to solve this before the spruce is too big. There are several ways to fix the issue.
Moving
If your Blue Spruce is up to 7 feet tall, you can move it to a place with more free space. However, if the tree is more significant, use the services of a landscaping company.
For transplanting to be successful, do it only in early spring before the tree wakes up. When digging out, avoid severely damaging the roots. The larger the root ball, the easier it will be for the tree.
Plant the tree in its new location and water it with a few gallons. Place a shading net over the spruce for the hot months in the year of transplanting. Be sure to mulch the root zone with organic matter to prevent the soil from drying out quickly.
Pruning
The second way to solve the problem of planting too densely is to reduce the size of the spruce.
You can cut back the young spruce shoots by half-yearly, and the growth rate will slow down considerably. This way, you get a compact tree that can grow in a tiny area.
Use only sharp tools for pruning. Before working, treat it with alcohol. It is better to prune in dry weather to avoid the infection of fungal disease.
Crown raising
Removing the lower branches of the Blue Spruce frees up a lot of space around and underneath it. In addition, the width of the crown is reduced, allowing the spruce to grow closer to other trees or objects.
By removing 1-2 lower tiers of branches, you will get a lot of free space and reduce the size of the spruce. However, the appearance of the spruce will change; it will no longer have a classic conical shape.
Read also: Trimming bottom branches of Blue Spruce.
How far from a fence or septic tank should you plant Blue Spruce?
You must plant Blue Spruce as far as 20 feet from the fence and the septic tank.
In the case of a fence, the spruce needs enough space to grow and get plenty of sunlight. If the distance is short, the spruce may not grow properly.
If we’re talking about a septic tank, there also needs to be enough distance. Even though the roots are not very deep and aggressive, it is better if the distance is maintained. It is necessary so that the roots do not block the normal functioning of this device.
Read more: Planting And Caring For Blue Spruce
Share This Post
