We have one of these magnificent Blue Spruce trees on our Colorado property. It gets full winter cold and wind. Our spruce has a much more open canopy than the specimen you're trimming. Habitat matters.
Ah, we have a lot of these in Colorado. Arborists may find them to be a PITA, but the birds love them. During the cold and snowy periods the birds find refuge in these magnificent, dense trees. Without them our little friends would be in trouble. All trees have their niche.
Yes, they are very dense. Almost impenetrable. They are a staple here in No. Colorado. We are in a crisis because of the Emerald Ash Borer-er, killing the Ash trees. Our big trees are being decimated. In the mountains, the Pine Bark Beetles have killed 50% or more of the trees. The Arborists at Colorado State say that in 30 years there will not be a living Ash Tree in the USA. This is beyond sobering and horrifying. Of course, you and I will not live to see the devastation, but our grand-kids will.
Yes, it is. However, we as scientists must be realistic. Evolution is not necessarily progress. It is just what it is, survival of the fittest (not what we humans want). If insects destroy a beloved species,or an invasive species goes wrong (Bradford Callery Pear), it is just what it is. Humans have intervened and fucked things up. We have Kudzu and Russian Olives. Nature will sort itself out, GOOD OR BAD.
Here in So. Cal one tree that should not have been planted is the Italian Stone Pine. A beautiful tree in the correct locale but they've grown here to enormous proportion and are in many cases unstable. There was one in the neighborhood that was full of widow makers, had raised the sidewalk about a foot and finally came crashing down during last weekends high winds taking two power poles with it. I love trees but I'm not sorry to see that one gone.
such a beautiful, tough species! (just like climbing a brillow pad) one time after a storm a top broke out 3/4 the way up an aprox. 20 yr. old Blue. of course the cust. wanted to try to save it. i came back to the area a few yrs. later to find the top regrew into a "school marm". two new tops that made the tree appear normal again? a first for me? your the best, Mr, Glenn.
I think the issue is stress (mostly drought and/or extreme heat), not actually the rate of growth or mild temperatures for the Colorado Blue Spruce. Blue Spruces I have seen in regions that are out of it's "optimal" Hardiness have been very tall for what I see, probably between 30-50 feet with little dead lower limbs (maybe the tree had work on it) in Zone 8. Generally Blue Spruce would take Warmer and Dryer growing conditions better than any other North American Spruce, that's probably related to it being the Third Southern most Native Spruce in North America after two types of Mexican Spruces, growing as far south as the mountains of Arizona.
In Iowa 2 common diseases: -1 Cytospora canker -2 Rhizosphaera Needle Cast According to ISU Hort Pathology lab. I had an unlucky Blue Spruce that was #3 All of the above... Bob
Elffirr Design very wide growth rings but acceptable for some projects. I built a heavy workbench out of this species. Started by milling into 4” slabs. Let them dry for about 5 years. Cut around the cups and cracks. Workbench is still stable and in good shape 10 years later.
@@arboristBlairGlenn When I have sown some Colorado Blue Spruces in my landscaped garden I had in mind that their mature final spread will be not more than 5 or 6 meters ! !!!
@@arboristBlairGlenn How possible is the final spread (the overall broadness) of the crown to reach whole 8 meters? Because many garden centers in Europe say that the ultimate mature spread of Colorado blue spruces can be 6 or 8 meters. If this is true I should keep this factor in mind and not to plant an italian cypress ''totem''(whose mature spread will be around 1 meter) at a distance from the now small colorado spruce smaller than 5 meters,for I would not want one day the Spruce and the Cypress to touch each other and to mar mutually and even destroy their branches.
