Dwarf Columnar Norway Spruce (Picea abies 'Fastigiata Compacta') - 1 Gallon Pot

Here's a breakdown of what you need to know...

Norway Spruce prefers a damp to moist but well-drained soil. Will tolerate periodic dry soil when established. As with so many other ornamental plants, constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. So make sure to plant your in a well-drained site!

The Norway Spruce will grow in full sun to part shade. For best overall performance and color, 5 hours or more of direct sunlight per day is suggested.

Start by digging your planting hole at least two to three times as wide and as deep or not much deeper than the root ball of your plant. The wider the hole the better. Place native soil removed from planting hole around the perimeter of the hole, in a wheel barrow, or on a tarp.

Depending on the type, fertility and porosity of the soil in the planting area, you might consider amending the native soil. To enhance porosity and ensure good drainage, when planting in heavy clay or poor soil it is beneficial to thoroughly mix in bagged or sandy native top soil or a good planting mix at a 50/50 ratio with the soil removed from the planting hole. When planting in very sandy, quick-draining soil amending with top soil can help retain moisture. When planting in a damp to moist but well-drained moist soil there is no need to amend soil.

To remove your Spruce from the container it was growing in first squeeze on the sides of the container to loosen the root ball. Then, firmly grasp the base of the plant and try to gently lift and remove the root ball from the container. If the root ball is stuck in the container use a snipping or cutting tool to cut the container away.

After setting your tree in the planting hole, use one hand to hold it straight and your other hand to begin back-filling your soil mixture around the root ball, tamping as you go to remove air pockets. When you have filled the hole to the halfway point you can soak the soil. Then continue back-filling to the top edge of the root ball. To avoid suffocating your plant, avoid placing soil on top of the root ball.

When planting your Spruce far away from a water source and in well-drained soil, you can use remaining soil mixture to build a 2-inch high water retaining berm (catch basin / doughnut) around the outside perimeter of the planting hole, as shown in the diagram above. This basin will help to collect water from rainfall and irrigation often reducing watering frequency. The berm can be removed after a growing season or when the plant has established itself.

Next, deeply water the planting area, including the root ball, to a depth equal to the height of the root ball. For an extra boost, you can water your newly planted Spruce with a solution of Root Stimulator, which stimulates early root formation and stronger root development. Root Stimulator reduces plant shock and promotes greener, more vigorous plants. 

Norway Spruce growing in pots appreciate a moist but well-drained soil. Constantly soggy soil can and often will cause root rot or other harmful or deadly plant diseases. Therefore, choose a pot with drainage hole(s) and use a quality potting soil or potting mix, or a 50/50 combination thereof.  To enhance drainage, you can also add 10 to 20% perlite or pumice to the soil mixture.

As mentioned, choose a container with a drainage hole(s) at the bottom and also one that is large enough to allow for several to many years of growth before having to shift up to a larger size container. This might mean your planting pot would be 10 to 18 inches or more in rim diameter than the root ball of your plant. 

Container color will matter as well. Not only will you want to pick a color of container that goes well with the foliage color of your Spruce, you'll also want to pick a container that matches the style of your home or other structures and other plants in the surrounding environment. 

Many nursery & garden centers offer a wide variety of containers to choose from. Before heading out to buy a container take pictures of your home and the surrounding environment. Doing so will help you to choose just the right color and style.

Before filling your container with the soil mix, we suggest lining the interior of the pot with shade cloth or a porous landscape fabric. This fabric will keep the drain holes from becoming stopped up with roots and soil. If you place gravel or other materials in the bottom of your pot lay the fabric over it.

To remove your Spruce from the container it was growing in first squeeze on the sides of the container to loosen the root ball. Then, firmly grasp the base of the plant and try to gently lift and remove the root ball from the container. If the root ball is stuck in the container use a snipping or cutting tool to cut the container away.

Pour a small amount of your soil mixture in the bottom of the container. Set your plant in the container and make necessary adjustments by adding or removing some soil so that the top edge of the root ball will sit 1" below the rim of the container.

Backfill with your potting soil around root ball, tamping as you go, until the level of potting soil is even with the top edge of root ball.

Water thoroughly until water starts to drain from the holes in the bottom of the container. Add more potting mix if settling occurs during watering.

Apply a 1/2" layer of wood chips or sphagnum moss to soil surface for decorative purposes and to help conserve moisture.

Norway Spruce do not require pruning. That said, they can be pruned for shaping purposes or to remove damaged branches or a stray branch that is spoiling the shape of the tree.

To prune or shear for shaping purposes this is best done in late winter, when the tree is still dormant. You can use trimming shears or a sharp pair of bypass lightly remove maybe 1 or 2 inches of green growth from the exterior of the plant. Alternatively, you can use a sharp pair of bypass hand pruners for selective pruning on young spruce. When hand pruning, follow branch tips back until you find two branches growing to either side. Snip off the center branch growth. Doing this will encourage the side branches that remain to grow faster and make the tree bushier. Before pruning, know that spruce trees do not produce new growth on old wood. So be careful not to prune or shear them beyond the point of green growth. In other words, make pruning cuts only where needles are still attached and green.