Dwarf Alberta spruce is a popular evergreen ornamental tree that can be found in many gardens and parks. It grows to form a pyramidal Christmas tree shape that grows up to 13 feet tall and has a characteristic aromatic green needle of about 1/2 inch long. The dwarf Alberta spruce is hardy and drought-tolerant, making it an ideal plant for people who live in areas with short growing seasons, but it does need fertilizer to thrive.
Like most landscape and ornamental plants grown in the garden, the dwarf Alberta spruce will thrive when you add fertilizer regularly to its soil. Fertilizer is a key component of healthy plant growth. It helps boost plant immune systems and make sure that the plants have enough nutrients to reach their full potential when growing outdoors or indoors.
Fertilizing the dwarf Alberta spruce will help it look its best, grow well, and produce cones for a beautiful Christmas tree. If you’re looking to plant a dwarf Alberta spruce, you’ll want to know how to fertilize it properly as well as the ideal soil conditions and care. This article will help with these.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce Soil and Environmental Conditions
The impact of environmental conditions such as the temperature, relative humidity, light, as well as soil cannot the left unsaid. The fertilizers will have little or no effects if the environmental conditions are unfavorable.
Areas with cold winters and cool summers are very good for the best performance of Dwarf Alberta spruce; this tree performs best in low-humid environments. At the early stage of growth, the dwarf Alberta spruce tolerates partial shade, however, as it grows older, it requires full sun for its best performance, particularly the shades of greenery.
The dwarf Alberta spruce prefers well-drained soil and a pH range between slightly acidic to alkaline; this means that the pH of the soil should fall between 5.5 and 6.5. If you have alkaline soils (with a pH over 7) you may want to consider remediating them before planting your Alberta spruces.
Alkaline soils can cause stunted growth and yellowed foliage in your dwarf Alberta spruce trees. To lower the pH of your alkaline soil, add organic matter such as compost or peat moss before planting. You can also test your soil before adding amendments by using an inexpensive kit from a local garden center or hardware store.
Many gardeners have attested to the fact that this plant does best in terms of growth and performance when grown with regular potting soil with added peat moss. If you have sandy or clay-like soils with little organic material, consider mixing up some well-rotted manure into these types of soils before planting your Alberta spruces.
Water is essential especially when grown in pots. However, watering should be done in moderation to avoid a soggy soil condition. The best time to water dwarf Alberta spruce is during the cooler part of the day, particularly after sunset for better utilization of the water.
Read Later: How To Correct Saline And Alkaline Soil For Crop Cultivation
Fertilizer Recommendations For Dwarf Alberta Spruce
The best choice of fertilizer for dwarf Alberta spruce is that fertilizer that contains the primary nutrients for growth and has the ability to release them timely. Considering this condition, here are our recommendations:
1) Ross 14666 36 Pack Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Root Feeder Refills
Ross 14666 36 Pack Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Root Feeder Refills is a great product to use in order to help your Dwarf Alberta spruce grow and flourish. It contains NPK 25-10-10, which will help you get the nutrients your tree needs to thrive. You can order this fertilizer to be delivered to your destination.
2. Scotts 110500 Super Bloom Water Soluble Plant Food, 2-Pound (2 Pack)
- It is a water-soluble plant food that feeds plants instantly
- It contains high phosphorus to help plants bloom
- Apply every 1-2 weeks for best results
3. PowerSi Granular 500g
- Power Si Granular is a slow-release granular fertilizer that contains stabilized silica, and other proprietary ingredients.
- It helps to release locked-up nutrients from the soil.
- Power Si Granular provides a stable matrix to keep silica in an active state, which is available to the plants for an extended period (up to 30 days after application).
- facilitates fast, visible, and structured growth of both vegetative and flowering.
4. The Andersons Professional Lean & Green Fertilizer 2-0-0 with Iron
- The Andersons Lean & Green 2-0-0 contains 10% iron for extra deep greening of trees with limited top growth
- Ideal for summer applications when the tree is becoming dull from stress
- Designed to be used as a supplement to a fertilizer program
Other slow-release fertilizers are:
Bone meal is high in phosphorus and calcium. It will help your dwarf Alberta spruce grow strong and healthy, as well as encourage new growth. Bone meal can be applied in the spring and fall to help the plant build up its nutrient reserves for the coming season. This makes it especially useful for trees that have been planted recently or are otherwise struggling to establish themselves in their new environment.
Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate (which gives it its name) which helps with nutrient uptake into plant tissue. This makes it perfect for helping your dwarf Alberta spruce absorb nutrients at their roots because magnesium plays an important role in photosynthesis; which means that if you have too little then this could inhibit growth.
Ensure you read the instructions before applying any of these fertilizers. In that guide, the manufacturer often includes the best application method and duration of application. Also, make sure not to overdo it – don’t add more than recommended per package directions because too much could kill them instead.
When and How To Apply
The best time to fertilize dwarf Alberta spruce is in the spring when new growth begins; this will give them plenty of time to absorb the nutrients before summer heat sets in and young leaves begin dying off naturally without any help from us humans.
If you’re looking for a boost of nutrients and want a fuller, greener plant with less browning, apply fertilizer in the fall as well. However, because this process takes longer than its spring counterpart and also requires more care (you must water your trees after application), it’s not as effective at preventing browning.
Care and Management of a Dwarf Alberta spruce
Pruning: Unlike other ornamental trees, pruning is not necessary with dwarf Alberta spruce as it grows so slowly. However, diseased and damaged branches can be removed whenever you find them.
Moisture Level: Check the moisture level of the soil around your dwarf Alberta spruce. As mentioned above, this species needs moist but well-drained soils so if its roots are staying wet for extended periods of time, it may be receiving too much water or nutrient runoff from other plants nearby.
Nutrient availability: Make sure that you have enough nutrients available for your dwarf Alberta spruce. It’s best if these nutrients come from organic sources such as composted manure or even just mulch rather than synthetic fertilizers which can end up polluting our groundwater supplies when they break down over time due to improper disposal methods.
End Notes
Although the dwarf Alberta spruce grows slowly, it still requires balanced fertilizer for the best performance. These fertilizers must supply nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These are the major nutrients required for the best growth of dwarf Alberta spruce. Slow-release fertilizers are ideal because they serve the plant longer.