Garden Care Guide

White Spruce Care

Picea glauca

An evergreen tree native to the cool and cold forests of North America. It likes moist, cool and acidic soils. Its popular dwarf form ('Conica') in particular becomes stressed in hot and dry climates and very susceptible to spider mite damage; it is not a suitable choice for the Mediterranean climate.

Hardy · -35 °C / -31 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Not required; winter precipitation is sufficient.
  • Pruning: Usually does not need pruning. Only remove dead, diseased or broken branches.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Dormancy period.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, cottony pouches on branch tips (pine bagworm). DO NOT TOUCH THE POUCHES OR CATERPILLARS WITH BARE HANDS; their hairs cause serious allergies and skin irritation.
February
  • Pruning: It does not need formative pruning and its top should not be cut. Only remove dry, broken, and diseased branches. On conifers, structural pruning leaves a lifelong mark. Only dead and broken branches are removed. On young trees, protect the leader shoot.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Rest period continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, cottony pouches on branch tips (pine bagworm). DO NOT TOUCH THE POUCHES OR CATERPILLARS WITH BARE HANDS; their hairs cause serious allergies and skin irritation.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: For acid-loving plants in acidic soil, apply slow-release fertilizer or compost at 30-50 g/m² of soil, and do not overapply.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Spruce gall adelgid (Adelges abietis) can form pineapple-like swellings on young shoots.
  • Frost risk: Young shoots may be damaged by severe late frosts.
April
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: Start watching for spider mites (Tetranychidae).
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: Especially on the dwarf 'Conica' form, examine the leaves closely for spider mite damage.
May
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
June
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Pruning: Avoid pruning a tree under stress.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: In particular, wetting the leaves of the 'Conica' form in the evenings can help keep spider mites away.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
July
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: Continue controlling spider mites.
  • General care: Pay particular attention to keeping it from entering water stress during the hottest period.
August
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: Continue controlling spider mites.
September
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month. Water newly planted specimens more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Not needed. Do not prune a stressed tree.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
October
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
November
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Enters dormancy.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, cottony pouches on branch tips (pine bagworm). DO NOT TOUCH THE POUCHES OR CATERPILLARS WITH BARE HANDS; their hairs cause serious allergies and skin irritation.
December
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, cottony pouches on branch tips (pine bagworm). DO NOT TOUCH THE POUCHES OR CATERPILLARS WITH BARE HANDS; their hairs cause serious allergies and skin irritation.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

Browse all plant guides