Train a weeping blue spruce - Ask Extension
Hello- We planted a Weeping CO Spruce ‘Blue Falls’ in June of 2022. (In Denver). It is healthy and as you can see in the photo, beginning to turn ...
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Train a weeping blue spruce #880170
Asked August 04, 2024, 6:05 PM EDT
Hello- We planted a Weeping CO Spruce ‘Blue Falls’ in June of 2022. (In Denver). It is healthy and as you can see in the photo, beginning to turn sideways. I love the interesting shape of these trees, but I am wondering if we can do something to train it to start curving back upwards- I don’t really want it to drop to the ground. Any suggestions as whether/how we can do something to direct the growth? Thanks so much!
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Tracey,
espalier trees are shaped by selective pruning and gently bending branches toward a stable guide (e.g., stick). I would apply the same principle here. Use tree straps (attached photo) to avoid damage by a string that would dig into the bark or even deeper into the branch. You need at least opposing 2 straps: one that prevents the stem to move into the direction the 2nd strap is pulling and one that pulls VERY GENTLY into the direction where you want the stem to go. Tighten the latter every 2 weeks or so a bit and after a while you will notice that the stem will become more upright. Obviously, the thicker and woody the stem is, the longer this will take. The opposite would be a newly grown, barely finger-thick branch that is still very flexible.
Hope this gave you and idea on how to proceed (with patience!).
Good luck with this endeavor!
espalier trees are shaped by selective pruning and gently bending branches toward a stable guide (e.g., stick). I would apply the same principle here. Use tree straps (attached photo) to avoid damage by a string that would dig into the bark or even deeper into the branch. You need at least opposing 2 straps: one that prevents the stem to move into the direction the 2nd strap is pulling and one that pulls VERY GENTLY into the direction where you want the stem to go. Tighten the latter every 2 weeks or so a bit and after a while you will notice that the stem will become more upright. Obviously, the thicker and woody the stem is, the longer this will take. The opposite would be a newly grown, barely finger-thick branch that is still very flexible.
Hope this gave you and idea on how to proceed (with patience!).
Good luck with this endeavor!
Perfect- thank you so much!
On Aug 6, 2024, at 10:58 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
