Montgomery Spruce Care In The Landscape

If you love Colorado spruce but don’t have the space in your garden, Montgomery spruce trees might be just the ticket. Montgomery (Picea pungens 'Montgomery') is a dwarf cultivar of Colorado blue spruce and won’t get much taller than you are. For more Montgomery spruce information, including tips on how to grow Montgomery spruce, read on.

Montgomery Spruce Information

Colorado blue spruce can shoot up to 100 feet (30.5 m.) in the wild, and that’s way too tall for small gardens. However, you can get the same effect in a miniature size with Montgomery spruce trees. According to Montgomery spruce information, these dwarf cultivars have the same blue-hued needles as the taller varieties. Yet, the cultivar only grows to 3 feet (1 m.) tall and wide over its first eight years. It can rise as tall as 8 feet (2 m.) over its lifetime if you never prune it. Montgomery spruce trees are attractive accent plants with their silvery blue foliage. They are particularly well suited to rock gardens. Montgomery spruce can also work well in hedges.

How to Grow Montgomery Spruce

If you are wondering how to grow Montgomery spruce, this cultivar only thrives in cooler regions. Don’t hesitate to plant Montgomery spruce trees if you live in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. You’ll need to site your Montgomery spruce in a location that gets full sun. The trees also require well-draining, acidic soil. This tree will not grow in shade or in wet soil. One important aspect of Montgomery spruce care is water. These trees require irrigation to grow well, especially during the years following transplant. Montgomery spruce trees can become drought-tolerant once roots are established, but they do best with regular water when young. These cultivars are not plagued by many pests but keep an eye out for aphids and spider mites. You won’t have to worry about deer, since they do not seem to enjoy nibbling it. Does Montgomery spruce care include pruning? You don’t have to prune these trees at all. Although, they accept pruning if you wish to impact the tree’s height or shape.