Fir and spruce seedlings

Blue spruce prefers sunny conditions - preferably at least 6 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.   Blue spruce seedlings adapt well to a wide range of soils - acidic, sandy, moist, well-drained and loamy. The preferred soil pH is 6.0-7.5. Blue spruce requires moderate moisture and is moderately drought and wet tolerant. However, it should be watered slowly, allowing the water to soak into the soil before applying more water. It is better to keep the soil drier than too wet to avoid standing water. Remember to water young trees during dry periods.   To keep the soil moist, a layer of mulch ~5-7.5 cm thick can be spread around the spruce, but it should not cover the trunk of the spruce.   Blue spruce does not need regular fertilization, it is sufficient to fertilize once a year in spring before the active growing season.   The blue spruce does not need pruning either, but if you want a denser shape, you can prune it. This should be done in the spring by cutting off half of the new shoot from each branch.   When transplanting, remember that the hole should be as deep as the root system and 2-3 times as wide. When the spruce is placed in the hole, the top of the root system should be level with the surrounding soil. Once the depth has been determined, the bottom of the hole should be secured by tamping down with the foot.   When transplanting, it is preferable not to fertilize the soil, unless the soil contains little organic matter, in which case the excavated soil can be mixed with a small amount of compost (the compost should not exceed 15% of the soil with which the hole will be filled).   Fill the hole halfway with the intended soil and then fill it with water. This will prevent air pockets and prepare the soil for planting. Once the water in the hole has soaked into the soil, the spruce can be planted. The hole should then be filled with the remaining soil and watered thoroughly. If the soil in the hole sinks, it can be topped off with more soil. The soil should not be placed around the trunk itself.

Dundanga spruce, or the Dundanga variety of Norway or Latvian spruce (picea abies Dundanga).   Dundanga spruce is a compact variety of Norway spruce with dense, short, sharp, green needles. The color of the needles is slightly lighter than that of the common spruce. The shape of the tree is conical and dense.   This spruce is particularly slow-growing, growing only 2-3 cm per year. In general, it can grow up to 3-3.5 m in height, but this takes several decades. A mature spruce is about 1.5-2m wide.   Interesting fact! The Dundang spruce was bred in Latvia. It was discovered in the wild in the forest around 1960 as a natural miniature tree with an unusual shape. The spruce was found by Vilnis Mitlers, the founder and manager of the Dundaga Nursery and Pine Seed Plantation. The Dundanga Spruce is also known as the Dundanga Juniper Spruce.   Today, Dundanga spruce is the most popular ornamental spruce cultivated in Latvia.   Dundanga spruce seedlings are available in limited quantities.

The Fraser fir is relatively slow-growing, growing 6-12 cm per year. The Fraser fir is a slender, pyramidal, evergreen conifer. Under the right conditions, it can grow to 10-15 m tall (rarely more) and 3-5 m wide. The crown is conical with horizontal or slightly upright branches. Young trees have dense branching, which remains sparse in older trees. It is very similar to the Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), the main difference being the scales on the cones. It has flat, flexible, shiny, dark green needles (10-25 mm long and 2-2.2 mm wide) with two silvery white bands on the underside, rounded or slightly split at the ends. The needles are densely arranged in a spiral on the twigs, but twisted at the base to form two rows on each twig. The needles are very aromatic; their strong scent is reminiscent of turpentine. The bark is thin, smooth and grayish brown. Drops of resin may appear on the bark. The cones are small, straight, cylindrical, 3.5-7 cm long, rarely 8 cm long and 2.5-3 cm wide, dark purple, turning light brown when mature, often resinous, with long green, yellow or light purple scales. The tree can be grown as an ornamental in the garden. The Fraser fir is a popular Christmas tree in many countries, known for its hardy needles and pleasant aroma.

The Latvian (Norway) spruce is an easily transplanted tree. The intended planting hole should be as deep as the spruce's root system, but wider. The excavated soil can be mixed with compost or peat to provide better drainage around the root system. Place the tree in the hole, fill it halfway with the prepared soil, and add water. Allow the water to soak into the surrounding soil, then fill the hole with the remaining soil.   Latvian spruce grows best in acidic, moist, sandy, well-drained and loamy soils. At the same time, it is one of the hardiest spruces in less favorable conditions, including poor, stony, alkaline, neutral and dry soils. The only condition that must be taken into account is that it should not be planted in wet soils, where it is more likely to die.   Latvian spruce likes a sunny location and needs at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.   The root system of the Latvian spruce is not deep, but it is very extensive. It should be covered with a layer of mulch ~7.5-10 cm thick to regulate soil moisture and temperature.   After transplanting, the spruce should be watered immediately and watered daily for the next two weeks to keep the top ~25-35cm of soil moist.   After that, the Latvian spruce requires very little care. The only thing that needs to be done is to water it during dry periods. It can be pruned in the spring to form a thick, symmetrical shape.   There are also some golden rules to remember when planting a tree.

• * The smaller the tree, the more likely it is to grow. Very often, large, mature trees are chosen for planting, but they already have a large, extensive root system. It is also difficult for a large tree to establish itself in a new location. It is best to choose a spruce seedling or, if you want a larger tree, to go no larger than ~1m. Spruce is a relatively fast growing tree. Depending on the variety and location, they can grow up to ~25cm per year. So you won't have to wait that long for a spruce to grow from small to large in the space you want it to occupy.
• * Don't plant in the summer!
• * Be aware that a spruce will grow into a large tree over time. Choose an appropriate location for it, taking into account the size of a large spruce and the shade it will provide.

  As it gets older, the smaller branches of the spruce will droop and it may start to look unkempt.

Nordmann fir seedlings are grown in pots from the beginning. Each year the trees are transplanted to larger pots to make sure they don't outgrow their pots.

• Before transplanting a fir tree, the area where it will be planted must be carefully considered. Remember that a large tree can grow under the right conditions. Nordmann fir likes a sunny or partially sunny location.
• The Nordmann fir is a slow growing tree.
• The soil should preferably be slightly acid or alkaline or neutral, moist, sandy or loamy, well drained. Spruce is sensitive to heat and drought.
• The planting hole should be 3-4 times the diameter of the spruce root system and as deep as the root system.
• It is recommended to mix the soil with humus to improve air circulation around the roots.
• The soil should be soft to encourage the tree to take root.
• After removing the pot, the roots should be carefully and gently straightened by moving them in different directions.
• The tree should be placed in the center of the hole and then filled with the prepared soil. After the hole is filled, the soil around the tree must be thoroughly watered.
• It is best to cover the soil with a layer of mulch about 7.5 cm thick, which will help regulate soil moisture and temperature, creating better growing conditions and helping the tree grow faster.
• Young plants need extra phosphorus to strengthen the root system. It is therefore advisable to purchase a phosphorus fertilizer and apply it as directed after transplanting or at least during the first season.

Picea glauca 'Conica December' seedlings are supplied in black plastic pots with drainage holes in the bottom. The size of the tree is indicated by the height of the pot. Conica December is a low maintenance, slow growing spruce that will not take over much of your garden after a few years. It grows to a height of only ~1 m when mature. It is also suitable for pot planting on balconies, terraces, porches, by the front door, etc. Important! Do not touch the top of the tree with your hands. Natural oils on the skin can damage the needles. The tree can be lifted and moved by holding its pot.