Colorado Blue Spruce Trees for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on January 7, 2022

Planting instructions

Choose a sunny location with at least seven hours of direct sun daily. Colorado blue spruce trees do not like soggy roots, so be sure the soil is well-draining. The trees are not picky about soil fertility and will do well in poor soils with pH levels from 6.0-7.5. It is helpful to start young trees in moist soil full of organic materials and nutrients. 

Dig a hole two to three times larger in diameter and a bit deeper than your tree’s root ball. Amend the soil when needed. Place the tree into the hole, being careful with the roots. Add the mixed soil and tamp it down gently to remove air pockets. Don’t make the soil overly compact as this will cause the tree to fail. Water deeply once you have it filled halfway. Continue to fill with soil until the dirt is level with the top of the root ball but not covering it. Create a trough with a berm surrounding the trunk to help retain moisture when the tree is far from a water source. The addition of mulch in a two inch thick layer around the berm improves the water retention.

Watering and nutrients

Water regularly until the young tree is established. Follow this timeline for newly planted trees:

• First 1-2 weeks: Water daily.
• Weeks 3-12: Water every other day.
• After 12 weeks: Water once a week.

Once mature, water weekly during the summer months over the next three years. Be careful not to overwater your Colorado blue spruce trees. As with most of its drought tolerant relatives, it will not tolerate wet roots.

A conifer fertilizer will go a long way in keeping your Colorado blue spruce healthy and happy. Use a 30-15-15 fertilizer sparingly during the first two to three years to aid in vigorous growth, then switch to a lower NPK of 11-7-7.

Pruning

Pruning is not usually recommended for blue spruce trees. Allow the tree’s branches to droop towards the ground adding to their overall pyramid shape. It also increases their ice and snow load resistance. Light pruning to remove dead or diseased branches, or to maintain the tree’s shape, is advisable. The dense, spiky foliage of the tree makes it an excellent choice for privacy needs.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Poor air or bad soil negatively impacts the Colorado blue spruce tree’s color and general health. Canker and needle cast can affect your spruce tree when dealing with too much water and humidity. Insufficient sunlight and heavy winds add to the problem.

A common pest to most spruce trees is the budworm larvae, which feed on old needles in mid-spring. It moves on to destroy developing buds and new tree foliage. Without management, they eventually kill the tree. Pine weevils can also be a nuisance that feed on all parts of the tree. If pests become a problem, contact a professional arborist or tree service company to treat diseases and infestations.

Deer are not particularly fond of the Colorado blue spruce tree’s sharp, one inch needles, but they will eat them under extreme conditions.

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Customer Reviews

Anonymous

Verified Buyer February 2, 2021 at 3:14am

Seems fine so far

Trees look healthy. Only about 8 inches tall so it will be a while before I can really judge.