Am I Taking Good Care Of My Colorado Blue Spruce?

Is your spruce planted in full to the partial sun?

Is your spruce planted in a well-drained, fertile soil?

Do you live in a region with a colder climate?

Do you allow the soil to dry before watering?

Do you feed your tree frequently?

Did you prune your tree for reasons other than to promote denser foliage?

Do you keep your Colorado blue spruce free of pests and diseases?

Plant them in full sun to partial sun. They will tolerate partial shade, but you will be happier with your plants' performance if you give them enough sunshine.

These trees do best in a location with a moist, well-drained soil made fertile through the use of soil amendments. This specimen is tolerant enough of mildly acidic soil to be grouped with the acid-loving plants, but it is not overly fussy about soil pH and will perform just as well (maybe even a bit better) in the ground that has a neutral pH.

The Colorado blue spruce is tolerant of cold weather. The plant will not thrive in extremely hot and humid weather conditions.

This tree is very drought tolerant and can survive in periods of low water. It does thrive with moderate water levels. Avoid waterlogging the tree or creating areas with standing water. Water sparingly and let the tree soak up the water before adding more.

These trees do not need frequent fertilization. You can fertilize them in the spring, before the growing season. This will give the tree an added nutrition boost. It will likely increase the length of the needs and improve the needle color. You'll want to sprinkle 10-10-10 slow-release granulated fertilizer over the soil in the root zone. Then water with about two inches of water to prevent fertilizer burn and incorporate the fertilizer into the water.

Colorado blue spruce trees do not need to be pruned, but they can be pruned if you wish to promote denser foliage. Prune off half of the fresh growth on each candle (that is, the tip at which branch growth occurs each year) in spring. Make sure to water young plants during dry spells. Apply 2 or 3 inches of garden mulch around the plants (but not up against the trunks) to help retain moisture in the soil.

Good job! You are taking good care of your Colorado blue spruce.

Colorado blue spruce is susceptible to gall adelgid and aphids that can cause branch dieback. If you see gall adelgid or aphids on your Colorado blue spruce tree, try spraying first with Neem oil. Several fungal diseases can cause needle cast disease. Needlecasts can be controlled somewhat with fungicide treatment, but this protects only new growth; it does not revive dying branches. Fungicide treatments may need to be repeated for two or three years for maximum effectiveness.