Hello friends! Today I will tell you when I water my Dwarf Alberta Spruce.
QUICK ANSWER: I only water my Dwarf Alberta Spruce when the soil in the root zone is 2 inches dry. I use 1-2 gallons of water for each watering.
Watering requirements
Dwarf Alberta Spruce needs at least 1 gallon of water each time it is watered. The larger the plant, the more water it needs. Large specimens over 5 feet tall may require 2-3 gallons of water.
I should say here that well-established spruce needs almost no watering. But if you want the spruce to grow faster and be lusher, water it when 2 inches of topsoil dries out.
I also recommend spreading mulch in the spruce’s root zone. This will slow down the soil’s drying out, and you will have to water much less often. The best mulch is organic matter, such as pine bark.
Too much water
If you water Dwarf Alberta Spruce too often or use too much water, the soil can become boggy. This is called overwatering.
This will cause the root system to become very soft and suffer from a lack of oxygen. Such roots are very prone to rot. If root rot begins, the spruce will lose needles.
To avoid root rot, do not water Dwarf Alberta Spruce before the soil is 2 inches dry. Avoid watering in rainy weather or on a schedule.
Very often spruce will be able to recover from root rot on its own. You have no choice but to wait. Avoid fertilizing or replanting the spruce as this will only make it worse.
Read also: Dwarf Alberta Spruce Overwatering
Underwatering
In some cases, Dwarf Alberta Spruce may suffer from dehydration. This happens very often in dry and hot summer weather.
In most cases, you should not expect fatal consequences. The color of the needles may change to pale green. The growth rate will also decrease and the crown may become less lush.
If the tree is well-rooted, it will be able to tolerate a relatively long period of drought (up to 1 month). But it will not look beautiful.
So keep an eye on the soil, and if it dries out, water the tree generously.
Watering the newly planted Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Newly planted Dwarf Alberta Spruce should be watered as soon as the soil is 1 inch dry. In summer in dry weather, this can be 1-2 times a week or even more often.
The difference with newly planted spruce is that they are usually grown in peat or other organic matter in nurseries. Organic matter can hold a lot of water, but it also dries out relatively quickly because of its loose structure.
When planting spruce, the root ball should not be damaged and the soil should not be removed. It should be planted as-is, filling the planting hole with native soil. It may take 1 to 2 years for the spruce to fully root.
Watering in pots
Special attention should be paid to watering Dwarf Alberta Spruce in pots. The potting soil mostly consists of organic matter, which as you already know can dry out quite quickly.
You must be very careful not to let the potting soil dry out more than 1 inch. If it dries out too much, it will be quite difficult to rehydrate it.
To avoid this, it is best to monitor the potting soil constantly. To slow the rate at which the soil dries out, mulch the potted spruce with pine bark.
Read also: Growing Dwarf Alberta Spruce in a Pot
Watering in winter
In winter, watering Dwarf Alberta Spruce is not necessary at all because it is hibernating and needs almost no water. In addition, the soil is usually moist in winter, which is quite enough.
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