Picea pungens 'The Blues'… dying??
nnmjdklil
last month
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (20)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last monthplantkiller_il_5
last monthlast modified: last monthRelated Discussions
A case of Picea pungens 'The Blues' blues
Comments (17)I have found that squirrel chewing on plants is more of a problem with maples & such, rather than conifers. Nevertheless, I protect both with animal repellent spray that goes directly on the small trunks of the plants (I've never had squirrels attack higher up, although I imagine that once the trunk is too big to chew on, they may try the more tender stuff higher up, if they're desparate enough...). The product is C-I-L ANIMAL REPELLENT (ammonium saccharide). According to the label on the bottle, "Animals are met with a vile taste (non-toxic) and are conditioned over time to feed elsewhere." The warning says "AVOID TASTING - extremely bitter and very unpleasant." Its fairly expensive though, so its better to put just a little, several times over a few days, rather than trying to put a lot and have it run down into the ground.......See MorePicea pungens 'Glauca Pendula' & Blue River Nursery
Comments (27)Yeah that would drive me crazy... I had a few light colored Jap maples that I took out... just because my mid summer nearly every leaf was brown. You just never know until you try something out. Actually, I don't really have anything blue to fit this location. Most of my blues are small ground hugging conifers with the Exception of 'Hoopsii'. Although the perfect color, it would outgrow the space fast. If you look close and I mean very close, you can see the 6" 'Hoopsii' in the photo above Actually, you can't see the plant itself... just the white nursery tag lol. I do have 2 picea pungens 'Sester's Dwarf'. One of them is in a bed by itself that I decided to put on hold for a couple of years. This bed doesn't have an mulch or other trees... just a little dead grass from the roundup I used to outline the bed. This could be another option. I'm thinking to much about it, I know... but it looks like my options are: 1) Picea pungens 'Sester's Dwarf' (right now it's about 2' tall) 2)Picea pungens 'Glauca Pendula' 3) A red Japanese maple such as Acer palmatum 'Skeeter's broom' or similar. Japanese maples offer the best red colored trees IMO, but I would hate to buy one until I see how my current 6-7 will do over the next few years. 2 of them hate sun, and the rest suffer slight dieback in the winter. So I'm still testing the water on these. I've just never been a fan of other red maples or other trees that may revert to green in the summer like my crab....See MorePicea pungens color diversity.
Comments (4)Nice pics indeed, very worthful for a database ;0) 'Theum' and 'Thume' are both wrongly spelled, 'Thuem' it is......See MoreI think I have a picea pungens 'baby blue' pendula
Comments (14)Thanks everyone! You have me quite excited about this tree. It is in part shade/part sun. It is tucked a little back in a wooded area but is south facing to an open field(the back side of the tree-1st pic, doesnt get as much sun as it should, and the front could probably use more as well - I was already "planted out" when I planted this). In the pic it is behind/to the right of the globe spruce on standard(middle of right side). It appears this is worth moving to a full sun location. Not sure that I have any more of those spots, but next year I will more than likely move it (when would be the best time? what about if I can move it in the next month- Ive planted conifers as late as Jan 9 (chiseling with shovel) with success. Ill figure out a better/full sun spot and replant something else if I need to make a spot. Might as well give it more ideal conditions(at least its not in my large vernal pool that lasts until August, even September some years) like other conifers I have planted -conifer islands) . Since deer have yet to mess with even a single one of my picea pungens (they prefer japanese maples, birches, willows, white pine, aspen, some picea abies,etc-they took it easy on the weeping white spruce in the pic a couple years ago) I dont think a fence will be necessary. Thanks for everyone's comments, I feel lucky to have stumbled upon this....See Morennmjdklil
last monthplantkiller_il_5
last monthdavidrt28 (zone 7)
29 days agolast modified: 29 days agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
29 days agolast modified: 29 days agoplantkiller_il_5
28 days agosteve duggins
23 days agonnmjdklil
23 days agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
23 days agoplantkiller_il_5
23 days agonnmjdklil
23 days agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
23 days agonnmjdklil
23 days agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
23 days agonnmjdklil
19 days agonnmjdklil
16 days agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 days agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
16 days ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Picea Abies ‘Nidiformis’
Bird’s nest spruce pulls its weight in the winter garden by providing structure and interest
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN10 Evergreens for Beautiful Foliage All Year
Give your landscape consistent color and structure with the emeralds, chartreuses and blues of evergreen trees and shrubs
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNTour 3 Marvelous Meadow Gardens and Learn About Their Plants
From rural Netherlands acreage to a Minneapolis rooftop garden, these wild and exuberant spaces surprise and delight
Full StoryPLANTING IDEASDesigning With Conifers: Personality and Form in the Garden
Unique and full of interest, well-shaped conifers await a place your yard
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGrow Your Own Privacy: How to Screen With Plants and Trees
Use living walls to lower your home and garden's exposure while boosting natural beauty in your landscape
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESTop Cold-Hardy Evergreens for Container Gardens
These tough beauties look good year-round and add consistency to container arrangements
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNTour a Designer’s Gardens in the North Carolina Mountains
The nature-inspired landscape surrounds a new dogtrot home with a meadow, a steep hillside, bogs and a natural stream
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNThe 7 Best Plant Types for Creating Privacy and How to Use Them
Follow these tips for using different kinds of plants as living privacy screens
Full StoryPLANTING IDEASDesigning With Conifers: Exploring Color
Colorful, structural and adaptable, conifers are waiting to transform your garden
Full StoryCHRISTMAS TREESWhy You Should Consider a Living Christmas Tree
Potted conifers last for years and can enrich the landscape. Here’s how to select and care for your tree
Full Story
plantkiller_il_5