spruce rescue

11 years ago

Here are a couple of Picea pungens 'Mile Up '92' which were grafted in spring of '09.

They spent the first winter ('09/'10) in large pots, and have been in the ground for the past two winters ('10/'11, and '11/'12).

This first one is in a raised bed with good drainage, and is doing great.

Picea pungens 'Mile Up '92'

This second one is directly in the ground, which is compacted clay.

Many of my conifers do just fine in this situation, although I'm speculating that some dwarfs might have a difficult time getting established there.

As you can see, it's starting to brown, and only a handful of buds are showing new growth this year.

Picea pungens 'Mile Up '92'

Minimal new growth so far this year.

Browning needles.

So, I'm going to try and rehabilitate this tree by putting it back in a pot for a while. Here's it's new home.

A mix of potting soil, bark fines, perlite, and turface.

The rootball.

A chunk of native clay soil came along for the ride. Great for holding moisture, but turns into a brick if allowed to dry out.

Mulched with shredded bark, and now under an aspen tree. Dappled shade in the morning, full shade for the remainder of the day.

Will this tree survive?

Also, am I giving it enough sun now?

Thanks.

Comments (16)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
Will this tree survive?

with you in charge.. its got the best chance it can have.. otherwise.. who knows ...

that is the shade i would put it in.. and leave it there..

but dont forget to harden it back off to sun.. when you release it .. as in catch and release.. lol ..

i have two pungens in absolute full dark shade.. they do OK .. growing under annual growth rates.. and a bit sparse comparatively speaking.. but they have not died in 11 years ...

roots and water are your issue.. you know that.. and you are addressing them.. dont start worrying about other things.. focus man..

ken
sluice
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Ken. In the shade it will stay, and hopefully will gain a bit more ballast. I'd like to see this one back in the ground at some point!
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monkeytreeboy15
11 years ago
Good luck, Nate. It sounds like a top-notch plan.

You're giving it the best treatment for getting well, in my opinion. Keep us updated with his progress.

-Sam
sluice
Original Author
10 years ago
Sam, here's an update on the rescued spruce. Things are looking good this spring!

Picea pungens 'Mile Up '92'

This is the one in the raised bed.

Picea pungens 'Mile Up '92'
coniferjoy
10 years ago
Nate, you did a good job!
It looks pretty healthy now in his new "care pot" :0)
monkeytreeboy15
10 years ago
Yes, it looks wonderful, indeed!
Thank you for the update. This isn't some cultivar you see everyday, either which makes it more special.
Congratulations!

-Sam
gardener365
10 years ago
That one in the raised bed has a nice shape. You must have put a whopper of a scion on the seedling when grafting.

Dax
sluice
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Edwin, Sam, and Dax.

Yep, some of these were started with large scions!
May 15, 2009
{{gwi:677924}}
treebarb Z5 Denver
10 years ago
Sluice,

It's a testament to your care that you nursed it through our drought last year. Nice work!

Barb
gardener365
10 years ago
Definitely a whopper. The kind of scion everybody wants!

Dax
outback63 Dennison
10 years ago
sluice,

Great informative post. The soil is everything.

Do you really need two 'Mile up 92' ?

I know where there is a really good home for it if it refuses to be rescued by you but it looks like I already lost that one.

Dave
alley_cat_gw_7b
10 years ago
Way cool Sluice, Nice picture / story!
sluice
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Barb, Dax, Dave, and Al.

Dave, if you'd like a Mile Up '92 I'll set one aside.
sluice
Original Author
10 years ago
I was inspecting the plant again this morning, and was surprised to see the vigor of the new growth.

Here is the fresh 2013 shoot (when plant is in pot), extending from the 2011 shoot (which grew when the plant was in the ground). Amazing!
outback63 Dennison
10 years ago
Sluice,

"Dave, if you'd like a Mile Up '92 I'll set one aside".

Please do.

Contact me by email and tell me when, how, and where,

Thanks,

Dave
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
Contact me by email and tell ..... where,

===>>>
probably some dark alley between a mile high.. and KC ...

lol

ken