Weeping Norway Spruce Trees for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on March 6, 2022

Planting instructions

Site your weeping Norway spruce where it will get at least six hours of sun, at least 6 feet away from driveways and sidewalks, in soil that drains well. Unpot the sapling and tease out any roots that are encircling the root ball. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide.

Place the root ball in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the soil grade, and fill in around the roots with a mix of topsoil and well-rotted compost or manure. Tamp down as you go to eliminate air pockets.

If you want your spruce to grow vertically, place several 2-inch by 2-inch wood stakes or metal posts about 8 inches away from the trunk after it’s planted. Attach your tree’s trunk loosely with fabric ties, tight enough to keep the tree upright but loose enough that they won’t rub off any bark. Water your weeping Norway spruce tree thoroughly, and mulch around the trunk with an organic product, such as bark chips, to help conserve moisture.

Watering and nutrients

When young, your weeping Norway spruce tree will need regular watering whenever the top few inches of soil are dry. Monitor the soil for the first two to three years, while the plant is still developing the extensive root system that will provide it with water when it matures. Once your tree is well-established and growing steadily, you can taper back on water unless you’re experiencing drought conditions.

Weeping Norway spruce trees don’t need much additional fertilizer if they are planted in relatively fertile soil. A light dressing in spring with a balanced product designed for landscape trees and shrubs is all your tree needs each year.

Pruning

The weeping Norway spruce tree grows naturally in an attractive shape and needs little shaping. If a branch sticks out at an odd angle, you can cut it back at a node (from which new growth comes) in the spring. Cut out dead, diseased, or damaged limbs whenever you see them. Always use clean pruners that have been sterilized with isopropyl alcohol.

Pests and diseases

Weeping Norway spruce trees are susceptible to several fungal diseases, including cytospora canker and rhizosphaera needlecast. Cytospora will cause yellow-orange spots on the trunk, as well as small raised areas on the bark of the tree. Rhizosphaera, meanwhile, may cause the needles to turn brown and fall off. A copper fungicide is your first option for defense, as is keeping your tree healthy so it can fight off infection. Space trees well away from each other, and avoid overwatering.

Pests include spruce spider mites, which feed on the needles. This causes them to slowly turn brown and die. These tiny insects are difficult to see with the naked eye, and you are more likely to identify them by the webbing they leave at the base of the needles. Bagworms may also prey on spruce needles, leaving behind silken bags filled with eggs. A healthy tree will fight off infestations, or you can use organic insecticides sparingly.

Achieving maximum results

Weeping Norway spruce trees are a landscape artist’s dream, and, if properly sited, can provide a central item of interest in a garden. These slow-growing conifers are prized for their attractive foliage and shape, and if you give them a little extra attention when they are young, they will reward you with years of beauty. Consider shape when you plant your spruce. If you wish it to grow to its potential 15-foot height, you will need to give it sturdy support when it is young. Left to its own devices, the tree’s central trunk may twist and snake along the ground rather than growing tall.

The weeping Norway spruce is also a candidate for the patio garden. It is cold hardy, so it would not need to be brought inside except in the most northern areas, and it should grow naturally to fit its container with adequate water and light applications of a general purpose fertilizer.

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