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I think you have photographed more than one tree there, Bobby. The first looks to be a Cedar, but there also looks to be a Yew in there also.

I haven't had any luck with Spruce. I have tried Norway and Sitka, and they both seemed to grow quickly at first and then die back and lose needles. I couldn't make any progress at all and ended up chucking them out. The conclusion I came to is that it is too warm around here. They are high alpine trees and are adapted to a very cold and winter and a short summer.
I have seen some very nice Spruce bonsai, but I don't think they are for me.

I have several Spruce on the go at the moment, mainly from seed. They are a pretty quirky tree to develop both in terms of wiring and pruning. They are very bendy trees and you can get good movement in them fairly readily but they rarely set where you want them to first time (always a half way house springing back a bit to where they were). Like Pines they are quite foliage dependent - don't chop off more than a third if you don't want it sulking on you - do big chops over 2 seasons.

Edit: The trees you posted look like Cedars & Yew (I'll post some Spruce pics soon)

Did you know Spruce have an ability to regenerate from roots, making it one of the oldest living organisms on the planet?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... -tree.html

Author:	BobbyLane [ 19 Aug 2015, 20:50 ]
Post subject:	This is a Spruce right?
Been studying Spruce a lot lately as going to be working on one over the next few days. I think this is one, its in the communal garden of the block next to me, if its not one it certainly has the growth habit of one! My Vespa is in the image for scale Resident Mr Fox There are Taxus trees close by

Author:	AlainK [ 19 Aug 2015, 21:25 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
No, this is a vixen. Attachment: vix.jpg Not sure about the tree: looks more like a taxodiacea to me, maybe from north-western america...

Author:	paulpash [ 19 Aug 2015, 23:51 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
I'm going to kielder forest for a week. There you can walk for hours on end in Spruce forests. They grow in pure sphagnum and I saw a few growing through old decaying trunks. If you love trees and walking then England's largest forest is a great way to spend some time.

Author:	NickB [ 20 Aug 2015, 08:15 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
I think you have photographed more than one tree there, Bobby. The first looks to be a Cedar, but there also looks to be a Yew in there also. I haven't had any luck with Spruce. I have tried Norway and Sitka, and they both seemed to grow quickly at first and then die back and lose needles. I couldn't make any progress at all and ended up chucking them out. The conclusion I came to is that it is too warm around here. They are high alpine trees and are adapted to a very cold and winter and a short summer. I have seen some very nice Spruce bonsai, but I don't think they are for me.

Author:	BobbyLane [ 20 Aug 2015, 11:46 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
NickB wrote: I think you have photographed more than one tree there, Bobby. The first looks to be a Cedar, but there also looks to be a Yew in there also. I haven't had any luck with Spruce. I have tried Norway and Sitka, and they both seemed to grow quickly at first and then die back and lose needles. I couldn't make any progress at all and ended up chucking them out. The conclusion I came to is that it is too warm around here. They are high alpine trees and are adapted to a very cold and winter and a short summer. I have seen some very nice Spruce bonsai, but I don't think they are for me. Thanks for the comments, yes there are two Yews there too, i did mention that beside the photo. it doesnt have the foliage of a cedar, the foliage is more Spruce or fur like. anyway no bother. According to my research Spruce do very well in our climate, which isnt much different from Germany where Walter pall worked over a 100 Spruce trees to great success. Graham potter also has a couple videos mentioning they do very well in this climate. Im referring to Picea abies/norway spruce/european spruce, the other varieties dont do as well from my research and albertina conia is the worst variety for bonsai apparently. now is the perfect time to work them according to WP blog, from june to end ofaug..although some well known experts prefer to work them in winter.

Wee Trees Bonsai Help Forum Advice for all http://www.weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/

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Author:	John M [ 20 Aug 2015, 12:30 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
It's a deodar cedar Cedrus deodari. The yew is a yew. J

Author:	paulpash [ 20 Aug 2015, 12:47 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
I have several Spruce on the go at the moment, mainly from seed. They are a pretty quirky tree to develop both in terms of wiring and pruning. They are very bendy trees and you can get good movement in them fairly readily but they rarely set where you want them to first time (always a half way house springing back a bit to where they were). Like Pines they are quite foliage dependent - don't chop off more than a third if you don't want it sulking on you - do big chops over 2 seasons. Edit: The trees you posted look like Cedars & Yew (I'll post some Spruce pics soon) Did you know Spruce have an ability to regenerate from roots, making it one of the oldest living organisms on the planet? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... -tree.html

Author:	BobbyLane [ 20 Aug 2015, 13:08 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
paulpash wrote: I have several Spruce on the go at the moment, mainly from seed. They are a pretty quirky tree to develop both in terms of wiring and pruning. They are very bendy trees and you can get good movement in them fairly readily but they rarely set where you want them to first time (always a half way house springing back a bit to where they were). Like Pines they are quite foliage dependent - don't chop off more than a third if you don't want it sulking on you - do big chops over 2 seasons. Edit: The trees you posted look like Cedars & Yew (I'll post some Spruce pics soon) Did you know Spruce have an ability to regenerate from roots, making it one of the oldest living organisms on the planet? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... -tree.html Cheers for that John M! Yeh they are tricky to set branches and will take a while, WP has been know to leave wire in place for 3-4 years or rewire after 1-2. also better to wire strong branches or branches with two or more buds. branches will tend to set quicker if the branch has more buds closer to the trunk. im just uploading pics of mine now Thanks for the link Paul, amazing trees

Author:	BobbyLane [ 20 Aug 2015, 15:47 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
NickB wrote: I think you have photographed more than one tree there, Bobby. The first looks to be a Cedar, but there also looks to be a Yew in there also. I haven't had any luck with Spruce. I have tried Norway and Sitka, and they both seemed to grow quickly at first and then die back and lose needles. I couldn't make any progress at all and ended up chucking them out. The conclusion I came to is that it is too warm around here. They are high alpine trees and are adapted to a very cold and winter and a short summer. I have seen some very nice Spruce bonsai, but I don't think they are for me. out of interest Nick, what soil mix was you using for your Spruce trees? I did actually come across your Spruce during my research, I must have scanned over 50 pages of the forum of members who have kept Spruce I think what Paul says about them growing in damp Spagnum moss is a indication they like to be a little damp, G potter says plenty of water in summer and keep them damp in winter and recommends his soil mix number 2 which is a free draining but moisture retentive mix, i know most folks on here refrain from keeping trees damp over winter, could that of been part of the issue some have had with their spruce? im only learning myself and gathering as much info as possible to keep my tree healthy. Ive just took a pic of what my Spruce has been sitting in for over a year, prior to purchase. Its pot bound, but the water drains right through, it looks to be broken down mushy Akadama.

Author:	NickB [ 20 Aug 2015, 19:30 ]
Post subject:	Re: This is a Spruce right?
I used my usual mix of s/cat, grit and multi-purpose for my Spruce. I found that after styling it didn't behave very well, sending out long shoots at odd angles, but then starting to lose needles from the tip and die back. I found it was hard to keep it looking healthy as the needles were always turning pale. There was no bulking up of foliage and it stayed quite sparse and leggy. I just couldn't get my head round it - it looked unhappy to be in a pot, so I ended up throwing it out to make space for something else. I also tried a young Sitka which I found in a forest. I grew it for a couple of years and pruned it with no wiring. Again, it seemed to send out shoots but then lose needles and look scraggy and ill, without making any progress. I only have a limited space in my garden and so have decided to stick with species that perform well quite quickly. If I had more space I would have kept the Spruces and left them out of the way for a few years, but I much prefer Larch, Pine and Cedars. Hope you have more luck, Bobby.

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