Spruce is common in the northern landscape of America. They are evergreen trees. Spruce trees belong to the tallest tree leagues. Different spruce has a different life span. If you have come to know about spruce, then you have landed on the right page! Scroll down to find your answers.
How long do spruce trees live?
The average life span of most of the spruce trees is about 150-200 years. But the blue spruce may have a maximum life span of about 600 to 800 years. A spruce tree survives typically long in the wild environment, but if they are grown at home, their health starts degrading after 40 to 60 years.
In the wild, a spruce tree can survive about 200 years. A tree can even stay for 800-1000 years if they grow naturally in a wild condition. Their surviving capability increases if they grow in the wild.
But if trees are grown in a homely environment, they cannot survive long, and their health degrades slowly. Trees planted at home should be planted in such a place with enough sunlight.
It should be planted in neutral to acidic soil, and the place should be well-drained. These trees are favorable to cold environments and keep the ground dry. They grow well in cold areas.
So, if spruce is planted in the home, it should be adequately cared for. Otherwise, their survival rate will decrease rapidly, and their health will degrade at a very young age.
Moreover, the spruce trees should be planted in their native geographical location; otherwise, they may not survive long.
Different diseases may strike the red spruce, like needle blows up canker diseases that degrade the tree’s health and reduce the tree’s life span.
Also, different types of insects can harm them and make the tree’s health terrible. As a result, the surviving capability of the tree decreases.
How many years do these spruce trees live?
Let’s walk through this section to know the lifespan of the following spruce trees –
Norway spruce:
In their native geographical location, the Norway spruce can survive about 300 to 400 years. But they generally live healthy up to 200 years. Their health starts to degrade when they are 200 years old.
Norway spruce survives long in a cold environment and grows well in a humid climate. They are mainly found all over Europe.
White Spruce:
The lifespan of white spruce is 250 to 350 years. This tree has an excellent surviving capacity and can grow well in range soil.
But these trees have been seen to survive up to 1000 years, and they grow well in moist conditions. At the early stage, the white spruce can be damaged by frost.
Norwegian Spruce:
The Norwegian spruce can survive up to 220 years. This spruce can hardly cross 220 years of lifespan. This tree is moderately drought-tolerant, and the lifespan can decrease highly for the drought. This tree grows well in locations where there is full sun.
Black Spruce:
The black spruce has a lifespan of about 250 to 300 years. These black spruces are mainly found in North America. These trees may live long on favorable lowland sites.
Sitka Spruce:
Sitka Spruce has a lifespan of up to 800 years. Sitka spruce is the fastest growing tree, and it can grow well in favorable conditions.
Sitka spruce generally grows in northern California to the Aleutian Islands chain of Alaska. They are usually large in size.
Alberta Spruce:
Alberta spruce can live up to 150 to 200 years. In a favorable location, it can survive for more years. It grows at an average height of 2 to 4 feet per year.
The maximum height of the plant is 30 feet. These plants grow well in the cold. Humidity is less preferable to them.
Colorado Blue Spruce:
The Colorado blue spruce can survive for about 600 to 800 years. This spruce grows in the rocky mountains of North America. Colorado blue spruce is a very long tree, and it has a maximum height of 70 to 80 feet.
How do you tell if the spruce tree is expiring?
Plants get diseases from various sources. While some are minor, others may take their life. Look out for these symptoms if you see your spruce is expiring.
Lower brunches Drying:
If the lower branches of the spruce tree are found expiring, it indicates that the tree’s health is not good. The termination of the lower branches may also be a reason for spruce trees to pass away.
A fungus named cytospora canker damages the vessels that supply nutrients and water to the branches. Due to the lack of water supply, the bark becomes dry, leading the tree to expiration.
This fungus stays under the bark of the trees. And the trees may expire within a few years of infestation.
White sap on the branches and trunk:
The white sap under the branches and trunks may be the symptoms of fungal diseases, leading the tree to expire within some years.
Expiration of the growing Sprouts:
If the newly grown sprouts are found to be expiring, it is a vital symptom that the tree will expire within some years. The expiration of the growing nodes is due to the tip blight disease.
When planted, plants get affected by this fungal disease, keeping a very little distance between them.
Needles become yellowish or brownish:
When it is seen that the trees’ needles become yellowish or brownish, we can assume that the tree is not doing well. The diseases that cause such harm to the needles can expire the tree within a few years.
What causes spruce trees to turn brown and lose needles?
The spruce trees lose needles and turn brown because of needle-cast fungus. These fungi are Rhizosphaera and cytospora Kunzei.
They cause fungal diseases to the plants. These fungi destroy the plant’s inner vessels, which carry water and minerals to the branches. Some of the main reasons why these diseases make a tree lose needles and turn brown are given below:
By the fungus Rhizosphaera:
This fungus strikes the lower branches. And this remains under the bark of the tree. This fungus damage the vessels that carry water and nutrients to the branches.
Due to lack of water, the branches may expire. When we notice that the trees are losing and turning brown needles, we must take appropriate action. The early action can save the tree from expiration.
By the fungal disease, Cytospora canker:
Cytospora canker is a fungal disease caused by the fungus cytospora kunzei. This fungus causes the spruce tree to turn brown and lose needles. These fungi enter into the tree through the wounds and brown the needles.
This fungus can eradicate the tree if not detected early. Proper action should be taken to save the tree; otherwise, the tree may expire within some years.
Due to lack of water supply:
The needles can lose and turn brown if the root does not receive enough water. These plants do not receive enough water during the late summer and fall months.
Due to lack of water, the lower branches become dry, losing needles. The branches start expiring due to dryness. And within some years, the trees also expire.
How to revive and save a spruce tree?
If the symptoms of the diseases are identified early, the preventive measures may help save and revive the spruce trees. The following steps can help to restore and preserve the spruce trees.
Remove the infected parts:
The affected parts such as branches and twigs should be removed from the tree by cutting it. Remove all the affected leaves, and all the infected parts should be demolished.
Using Fungicides:
After removing the affected parts, the fungicides have to be applied to the whole tree. This will destroy if any fungus is further present after removing the affected regions.
Watering the plant regularly:
This fungal disease destroys the water supply of the whole plant. Due to the scarcity of water, the tree may often expire.
So, a good amount of water should be given to the tree so that it can revive to its previous healthy condition. And mostly, the tree should be planted in well-drained soil.
Plant in the right place:
There should be remarkable gaps between the trees that prevent waterlogged situations. While watering, the water may clog. The spruce does not like the watery situation.
Moreover, if there is enough gap between the trees, one infected tree cannot infect another by spreading fungal diseases.
Mulching:
This mulch will help to hold the moisture. This moisture will make the tree stronger. This mulch can also help in removing the weed.
Final Thoughts
Spruces are generally a long-living evergreen. The shape of the spruce tree is usually conical. These trees can survive long years if proper steps are taken against fungal diseases. Spruce has medicinal values too, which fight against bacteria. They are helpful in current times.