Their natural form is to skirt the ground. If you prune the lowest layer, the layer above will sag.

here's a picture of the spruce...
Thanks for the reply whaas.
it is actually worse than it looks.. about 70% of the bottom needles touch the ground..

Here is a link that might be useful: https://picasaweb.google.com/116922098922111175983/61?authkey=Gv1sRgCLPRnNfrzYuIMQ#5617156937008173186

Tree looks great , no need to prune.

Their natural form is to skirt the ground. If you prune the lowest layer, the layer above will sag. --Agree ---

typical application of the potential to love it too much ...

let it do its own thing ....

the only reason to prune it up .. would be limited space .. or access underneath ... which is kinda the same thing .. and which i see no application to yours ...

insure there is no mulch volcano on the trunk.. it is either such .. or planted high in clay soil ... the latter being ok .. the former being problematic

ken

kinda digging up an older thread- I know I've probably brought this up before, but again because recently from an arborist( and from other people) I've been told that none of the branches from any spruce tree should touch the ground because fungus diseases start from the ground-are splashed up to the bottom branches and it spreads from there, and said I should trim up all of my spruces. I understand their philosophy on it- but still think its a crazy preemptive maneuver to start hacking up perfectly good spruces.

Dang Rob, Nice tree. Doesnt look broken...Doesnt need fixing...
Welcome aboard the conifer forum!
AL

Agree with alley cat.Can you imagine what most collectors plants would look like pruned away from "splash zone"?
Your mounded plantings spaced well across the lawn makes for a handsome well thought-out view.Good work!Doug

So much bad advice out here that we need to do or should have done

Mulch volcanoes ranks right up there. All you nursery mulch sellers. Sorry. I saw one yard where it was mounded up 18" on the tree trunks.

Dave

"none of the branches from any spruce tree should touch the ground because fungus diseases start from the ground-are splashed up to the bottom branches"

Anyone who thinks that clearly doesn't understand how motile fungal spores are. Imagine: tissue culture and biotechnology labs could just be outside, as long as they were above 3' off the ground. "No problem guys, we're in the sterile zone. Plate away!" LOL.

Thank you everyone for your input. Its been a good two years and the tree is doing great. Ive been fertilizing early spring and late fall. Just the box of Miracle grow you can buy at costco. I did not cut branches touching ground. I will update everyone in coming years. Enjoy your gardens this summer!!!!!!!!!!!!