Norway Spruce Screen Decisions

[Bowsnbucks]

As someone who has Norway spruce I planted 30 plus years ago. Spacing minimum 15 feet apart. Rows offset 25 feet back. If I had to do it again I would plant white pine on the outer row as they will easily outgrow the Norway but Norway do grow fast. Remember a 3 2 transplant seedling is a 5 year old tree going in the ground. Do not buy anything less than a 3 2 transplant. You will need to dig holes to plant them or use an augur. Always keep a 5 gallon bucket of water with you and throw the seedlings in the water to soak before you put them in the ground. Keep scissors to even the roots out and cut if needed. Do not j root the seedlings they will die. For those who gave you advice on switch grass it's a great idea. Your talking years for the growth to happen.

Or if you want a tighter, denser, screen sooner - plant the spruce at about 8 ft. apart. Then, when your spruce start to touch each other, cut out every other one to let the remaining ones fill out. Just an option, since everyone's needs vary.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Or if you want a tighter, denser, screen sooner - plant the spruce at about 8 ft. apart. Then, when your spruce start to touch each other, cut out every other one to let the remaining ones fill out. Just an option, since everyone's needs vary.

Agree with above or you will be waiting an extra 7-10 years for gaps to fill in. Also if using wider spacing and every tree that dies you must replace with another or that gap is huge. With tighter spacing some mortality is ok with doing nothing.

25 ft between rows might be good for apple trees but seems excessive for spruce planted specifically as a screen. If you want to drive around each tree 20 yrs later to each their own. Different end goals for folks.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Agree with above or you will be waiting an extra 7-10 years for gaps to fill in. Also if using wider spacing and every tree that dies you must replace with another or that gap is huge. With tighter spacing some mortality is ok with doing nothing.

25 ft between rows might be good for apple trees but seems excessive for spruce planted specifically as a screen. If you want to drive around each tree 20 yrs later to each their own. Different end goals for folks.

I'm just glad we planted a bunch for a road screen 27 years ago. Solid green wall - can't see in at all from the road. We just planted more Norway spruce and balsam fir for windbreaks and "deer walkways." Deer like to hug the evergreens when going from point A to point B. Cover when the leaves are down.

 

[matinc]

The best time to plant a cover screen was yesterday. This was planted almost 34 years ago. Norway and blue spruce. See the shack hidden in the spruce where you can access out the back and from wary eyes in the field

 

[Bowsnbucks]

The best time to plant a cover screen was yesterday. This was planted almost 34 years ago. Norway and blue spruce. See the shack hidden in the spruce where you can access out the back and from wary eyes in the field

Nice. Great plan, and you're right about "yesterday." Your evergreens look great!

 

[matinc]

Bowsnbucks. While sitting in that shack in the picture in the spruce this buck popped our as a 5.5 year old at 15 yards. I let him walk that day and had him dead center of the shoulder at 6.5 with my 300 mag at 75 yards and let him walk again. He was taken 3/4 mile to the north as a 7.5. What a tank.

 

[Brian662]

I am doing some discount shopping late this fall for a road screen where I had a miscanthus failure.

I'm going with Norway Spruce on 15' spacing and 12' row. Road is about 2' higher than the field edge, so I'm already at a disadvantage.

My question - how much better is a #5 container tree than a #2 container tree for those with experience? Survivability and growth rate are the two important factors. Both options sourced locally but the #5 is about double per tree and a little tougher to get delivered.

I'd guess initial overall size difference between #2 and #5 is about 12" which means two years of early growth from my experience.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I am doing some discount shopping late this fall for a road screen where I had a miscanthus failure.

I'm going with Norway Spruce on 15' spacing and 12' row. Road is about 2' higher than the field edge, so I'm already at a disadvantage.

My question - how much better is a #5 container tree than a #2 container tree for those with experience? Survivability and growth rate are the two important factors. Both options sourced locally but the #5 is about double per tree and a little tougher to get delivered.

I'd guess initial overall size difference between #2 and #5 is about 12" which means two years of early growth from my experience.

Man, a lot of my norways that were spring '22 SWCD 1 gal pots jumped multiple feet this year. I've never bought larger container stock norways but have done one size up BHS that were significantly larger/nicer trees when planted and they are well outpaced by the 1 gal Norways now.

All my fill in spots for dead trees or supplemental thickening will be more 1 gal norways. They are doing great. I think the bigger the tree, the more the transplant stress and risk of survival as well.

Trees on right were the 1 gal norways planted in ‘22 from this June or July. They have grown more since! Those are 4' cages.

 

[Brian662]

Here is the prices I've been quoted this fall.

2 gallon $14 per
3 gallon $25 per
5 gallon $30 per

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Those seem like good prices, for fall pickup or spring? I might be interested in getting in on some of those 2 gals.

 

[Brian662]

Those are prices I was quoted today. The regular 2 gallon price is $15 but for the amount I need he said $14.

The 3 gallon nursery is down to $22 per now, but I'm leaning towards the 2 gallon.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Those are prices I was quoted today. The regular 2 gallon price is $15 but for the amount I need he said $14.

The 3 gallon nursery is down to $22 per now, but I'm leaning towards the 2 gallon.

But you need to pick them up this fall, not order for spring?

 

[Brian662]

But you need to pick them up this fall, not order for spring?

The 2 gallon guy said he'd do $15 each in the spring

 

[Brian662]

Man, a lot of my norways that were spring '22 SWCD 1 gal pots jumped multiple feet this year. I've never bought larger container stock norways but have done one size up BHS that were significantly larger/nicer trees when planted and they are well outpaced by the 1 gal Norways now.

All my fill in spots for dead trees or supplemental thickening will be more 1 gal norways. They are doing great. I think the bigger the tree, the more the transplant stress and risk of survival as well.

Trees on right were the 1 gal norways planted in ‘22 from this June or July. They have grown more since! Those are 4' cages.View attachment 84504

Just saw you added the pic. Probably 6-8 more years before it's a full screen?

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Just saw you added the pic. Probably 6-8 more years before it's a full screen?

Hard saying as the ones from '22 are the first spruce trees I've planted. They have put on substantially more growth each year than they did the prior so I'm unsure how that will progress. That seems like a fair guess though.

 

[Brian662]

Hard saying as the ones from '22 are the first spruce trees I've planted. They have put on substantially more growth each year than they did the prior so I'm unsure how that will progress. That seems like a fair guess though.

I have some 2 gallon potted (same guy as mentioned earlier) planted August 2020 that the leaders are 10' but the tree width is ~4'. Going to start trimming the leaders to encourage bushy growth next spring. No current pics unfortunately.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I have some 2 gallon potted (same guy as mentioned earlier) planted August 2020 that the leaders are 10' but the tree width is ~4'. Going to start trimming the leaders to encourage bushy growth next spring. No current pics unfortunately.

That seems about in line with what I'd expect for heights on the ones pictured with 2 more years. I'd assume you have better soil than I. Are yours caged/matted? The ones I haven't caged/matted are significantly behind the ones that were.

 

[Brian662]

That seems about in line with what I'd expect for heights on the ones pictured with 2 more years. I'd assume you have better soil than I. Are yours caged/matted? The ones I haven't caged/matted are significantly behind the ones that were.

I didn't cage/mat them until later. Had some deer browse the leaders and got tired of fighting weed/grass issues so they got caged/matted in 2022. Have some BHS with cage/mat that are only growing ~6" a year compared to the Norways at 18".

Its good soil, the $300/acre rent type.

 

[matinc]

Call Needlefast in ludington michigan. They will send you the stock. They are a grower of spruce. Buy a 3/2 transplant it's 5 years old. 3 years in seedbed. and 2 years transplanted. Also I would kick the between rows to 15 feet. 15 by 15 and offset rows. If you need assistance dm me ty

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Just saw you added the pic. Probably 6-8 more years before it's a full screen?

Norways are the fastest-growing spruce, so that's a plus. All the hundreds of Norways I've planted at camp over the years have been seedlings of about 15" avg. Even starting that small, I've found that the first 2 years - not much growth. Root systems are getting established. But starting in year 3, things start to happen. Bottom line ..... by year 7 we usually have 7 or 8 ft. trees. Year 2, I tossed some 10-10-10 down around the seedlings, and continued up to year 7. By then they were kicking butt on their own. Yearly growth year 7 and beyond is commonly 2 ft. to 30" - sometimes more.

After transplanting, the first year or 2 is mainly root systems getting established, regardless of tree species. After that, the brakes are off & growth takes off. Hope this is helpful info ..... been planting trees for over 35 years. Good luck with your screen.