Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Gardening

Botany

(75,060 posts)

1. Can I be honest? Alberta spruce are not good plants. The nusery industry produces them by the ...

Reply to Baltimike (Original post)

Sat Sep 11, 2021, 05:30 PM

Sep 2021

tens of thousands and they look good @ the garden store and for sometime after you plant them but
they almost always go down hill after not too much time.

I'm willing to bet that one side of your spruce is all brown. Usually on the side that gets more shade.
Those brown patches will never come back and they are from spider mites. Alberta Spruce almost always
get spider mites not unless you have a spray program to control them and those insecticides are a hammer
on our native and beneficial insects which in turn hurts out native birds.

Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata' or Boxwood "Green Mountain" are better choices. However I would suggest
you plant a native plant instead.

BTW I'm an expert in this stuff too.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

4 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

My dwarf alberta spruce does not like my big daddy hydrangea... [View all] Baltimike Sep 2021 OP

Can I be honest? Alberta spruce are not good plants. The nusery industry produces them by the ... Botany Sep 2021 #1

Ahh. That makes sense. I replaced one and blamed myself that it died vanlassie Sep 2021 #2

I love their schlubby cottage vibe... Baltimike Sep 2021 #3

Winterberry Holly (gotta plant at least 2 ... male and female), Black Chokeberry, Red Milkweed, Botany Sep 2021 #4