Spruce spacing

[jlane35]

I have 1000 Colorado blue spruce ordered for the spring. I can't remember the recommended spacing for wildlife. I would like brush to grow in between trees and the spruce to never lose there bottom limbs.

Should I be in the 10 foot area for spacing or is that to much?

 

[1yellowdog]

10' is too close for your desired results. I would double that spacing to 20' to have the results you are looking for.

 

[Bigeight]

I've been planting Norways at about 14' spacing for bedding.

 

[jlane35]

Am I right in thinking there should be brush growing in between? I'm looking to benefit all wildlife, but specifically deer, rabbits and grouse.

 

[MarkDarvin]

I just got done planting some this fall (other spruce, not blues). I spaced mine 4' apart with the understanding I was going to thin them as they began touching. Trees are cheap. I'd plant close and plan to thin. Then you don't have to wait 15-20 years for them to be thick enough to be desirable bedding and nesting.

 

[George]

10' is too close for your desired results. I would double that spacing to 20' to have the results you are looking for.

6-7 good paces.

G

 

[1yellowdog]

G - my kind of measurements; some at 6 paces, others at 7. And don't have them in a straight line unless you are using for road screening.
Jlane - are you adding the brush between the spruce or are you letting it come up naturally? I use speckled alder around my spruce. It is a perfect combination.

 

[jlane35]

I have 100 blackberry bushes ordered this year also. Next year I plan on ordering 100 crabapple trees and 100 black chokecherry. If I'm wrong in thinking I should go with wider spacing let me know.

From what others have said, the best plan may be tighter plantings then seperate each large cluster of spruce with the shrubs or trees I plant.

 

[dogghr]

I have 100 blackberry bushes ordered this year also. Next year I plan on ordering 100 crabapple trees and 100 black chokecherry. If I'm wrong in thinking I should go with wider spacing let me know.

From what others have said, the best plan may be tighter plantings then seperate each large cluster of spruce with the shrubs or trees I plant.

I've fed my deer lots of Northern spruce, so with your colorados, I'd cap them with metal screen on lead candle to keep from being browsed. I would plant random interspersed with a plant type bush/tree. Check out Brush's thread, lots of good info there on tree plantings.