tree tuesday —  growing up

When we first moved to this house 6 summers ago, the gardens weren't planned in a way to allow trees and bushes growing space.

One of the trees that I was concerned about is this spruce. It was planted up against a fence and squashed between two mature spirea.

It wasn't growing at all.

I decided it needed to be moved and allowed to stretch it's branches and roots. Within three years it has tripled in size and I've been happy to see it spread outward and upward.

Before we relocated it, the spruce was about 3 feet (1m) tall and maybe 2 feet (60cm) around. Now it's a proud 10 feet (3.5m)+ by 7 feet (2.1m)+ and growing. By the end of this summer it will have grown another two feet (60cm). How do I know? It is showing growth at the top, the leader.

Most spruce trees grow 1 - 2 feet (30-60cm) each year.

Each little brown cone-like peg is a the beginning of a new branch. As it grows the needles are a bright lush green ultimately settling into the more familiar dark green.