So Long to the Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Yard

A Somewhat Sad Moment

After years beside the back steps, a favorite evergreen had finally outgrown its place at House 173.

If you've been around 173 for any amount of time at all, you're probably more than aware of the fact that we love bushes, flowers, trees and just about anything green.  However, as farmers and garden designers both know, sometimes a landscape needs to change, forcing you to do something that otherwise feels unthinkable.  That is...cut down a tree.  In our time here at 173, we've had the unfortunate task of cutting down four trees.  Well, it's happened again, sadly this time it was our Alberta Spruce.  Let's get into it...

A Little About the Dwarf Alberta Spruce

The Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a cultivar of white spruce, originating in Alberta, Canada, and was first discovered in the early 1900s. This slow-growing evergreen is widely cultivated for its dense, conical shape and its suitability for ornamental gardening. Its naturally compact growth habit makes it an ideal choice for formal gardens, foundation plantings, and container use.  Mature plants typically reach a height of 6-8 feet, though their growth rate is very slow (2-4 inches per year). Some may take decades to reach full size.

The Trees We’ve Said Goodbye To

Within just a couple years of coming to 173, I replaced a flag pole the Moshers had used as a clothesline pole and planted a maple tree. Bad idea! I had not really thought that out, and it eventually dawned on me that a maple tree grows huge and would eventually take over the whole back yard. So when it was time to build the shed - out came the tree.

Another hatchet job came to our Granny Smith apple tree.  It was planted at the same time as our Macintosh tree,  but we didn't plant it in a very great spot,  and when part of the tree split... the decision was made and, down it came. 

Then came the white birches.  Sometime around 2005, I noticed a little ranch-style house in the neighborhood with a clump of birch trees in its front yard. I loved the look, so off to Hewitt's I went, about an hour later 173 had a birch tree with three main limbs.  But in 2013, we learned how invasive these birches were,  down they came!

In case you want to know what spooked us so badly,  I'll let SF Gate explain...

To double in area every year and build the underground web to support rapid top growth, roots have to grow fast. Substantial white birch roots fill the area around the tree and probe cracks in barriers, including concrete. The tree’s aggressive roots seek water, prying open cracks or joints in sewer or irrigation systems. Birch roots, along with willow and poplar, are among the most aggressive -- and destructive -- tree roots.  - SF GATE 

Oh, but then came the Canadian Hemlock.  In 2007, the hemlock was planted in the back yard. The yard needed some evergreens back there because in winter it could get pretty bleak looking out there. From the very start it was clear that there would come a day when the hemlock would have to come down. 173 has a small yard, and hemlocks can get pretty big - but the thought was that it would be enjoyed until it started to get too big to be removed easily. And - enjoy it we did... until 2018 when that day had come and, with surprising emotion - that beautiful hemlock came down. 

Before the Spruce, There Were Daisies

In the very earliest days of us being here at 173, there was nothing at the bottom of the steps on the back stoop.  At some point we decided that we should put some flowers in that spot and ended up with shasta daisies.  Now, if you know shasta daisies at all, you know they smell horrible! They drew a lot of flies and even a light breeze would drive the smell of the daisies into the kitchen windows.  They were beautiful to look at but stunk to the high heavens.

I think we stuck with the daisies for a couple years and suffered through the smell because they were so beautiful. But eventually we'd had enough of that smell, and because I've always been a fan of having some evergreens in the yard (you know... color in winter) we started looking for the right candidate.  

I think we gravitated to the Alberta spruce because a friend of ours had one in her front yard and we saw it at Christmas and loved it.  In this next picture you can see that at the time it was taken there was more snow than Alberta spruce. Oh, you should also take note that there was also a dog named Bruegger. Miss that ol' fella.

The Little Spruce Grows Up

And of course, the Alberta spruce slowly grew over the years and turned out to be a beautiful addition to the backyard.

And it didn't matter what the season, it was a beautiful contributor to any vignette. These views were enhanced by the little spruce Christmas tree in our backyard.

Here's a shot showing what it looked like when it was full grown. And I think this picture was from this past summer.

When you drive the axe into the tree when you need firewood, you are not cutting down a person; you are cutting down a tree. But while we should not romanticize the tree, we must realize God made it and it deserves respect because He made it as a tree. - Francis Schaeffer

Why It Had to Go 

As much as we loved the ol' spruce, over the last couple years it was becoming clear that it was time for a change.   First, it was becoming obvious that the tree was growing a little too large for the space.

And the tree was really starting to encroach on the back stoop steps,  which really came to light last spring when we were re-doing the stoop floor. 

Finally, a fairly large colony of bees had been living in the tree for a couple of years.   That in and of itself was not enough to remove the tree,  but when you put it all together... it was time. 

Taking Down the Alberta Spruce

Taking the tree down was simplicity itself.  I started out with my chainsaw on a stick,  but quickly figured out that just using some loppers was the best option. 

And in no time we were down to just the trunk...

And finally,  about 10 minutes with the reciprocating saw...

...and it was like there was never an Alberta spruce in the yard. It looks kinda empty!  And hey... there's Charlie!

Looking at that picture, I couldn’t help thinking about the earlier photograph of the little spruce almost buried in the snow, with Bruegger standing nearby. He was there near the beginning, and now Charlie was here to inspect the empty space left behind. I suppose that’s one of the ways a yard keeps time. The trees grow, the dogs come and go, and years pass quietly until an old photograph reminds you just how much life happened around one little corner.

The Empty Space It Left Behind

We have some thoughts about what'll go in there next,  but that's a couple months away.   Hey,  thanks for stopping by - see ya' next time!

I didn’t fully appreciate the spruce while reading about it.

Not at first.

I saw the old photographs. I understood that it had been there for years. I could see that it had grown too close to the steps and that removing it made sense.

Then I reached the picture after it was gone.

That empty patch stopped me.

Gardens are strange that way. We think we notice flowers opening, leaves changing, and trees getting taller. Most of the time, though, we don’t. We absorb them gradually until they become part of the background. Then one disappears, and suddenly the whole yard looks unfamiliar.

The photograph with Bruegger beside the tiny spruce gave the story its beginning. The photograph with Charlie standing near the cleared space gave it an ending. Between those two dogs was nearly the entire life of the tree.

I also appreciated that you didn’t pretend the decision was tragic. The spruce had simply outgrown its place.  The steps needed room. The bees had moved in. The yard was asking for something different.

Still, practical decisions can leave sad-looking spaces.

For now, I hope you let that corner remain empty just long enough to remember what stood there. - The Person Who Notices What’s Missing

Frequently Asked Questions

How large does a dwarf Alberta spruce grow?

Despite the word “dwarf,” these spruces can eventually reach roughly six to eight feet tall and several feet wide. Their slow growth can make them seem permanently small, but over many years they may outgrow narrow foundation beds, walkways, steps, and compact urban yards.

How quickly does a dwarf Alberta spruce grow?

Dwarf Alberta spruces generally grow only a few inches per year. That slow rate makes them easy to underestimate when first planted, but even modest annual growth adds up over decades.

Why remove a healthy dwarf Alberta spruce?

A tree or shrub does not need to be diseased to become unsuitable for its location. It may obstruct steps, crowd nearby structures, interfere with maintenance, or create an uncomfortable amount of insect activity close to an entrance.

Can a mature dwarf Alberta spruce be transplanted?

Smaller specimens can sometimes be moved successfully, but transplanting becomes much more difficult as the plant matures. A large, established root system is heavy and easily damaged, and there may not be enough room to dig an adequate root ball in a confined yard.

What can replace a dwarf Alberta spruce in a small space?

Good replacements depend on the available sunlight, mature width, soil conditions, and distance from nearby steps or walls. Compact shrubs, small ornamental grasses, narrow evergreens, or a layered perennial planting may provide interest without eventually overwhelming the space.

Why do Alberta spruces sometimes attract bees or wasps?

Dense evergreen foliage offers shelter from weather and predators. Depending on the insect, the plant may also provide a protected nesting or resting location. Anyone finding a large colony close to an entrance should identify the insects before disturbing the shrub.

Keywords

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