Expert: Jim Hyland - 11/16/2004

Question
We live in the Mountains of NW NJ.  We built a log home on over 3 acres 8 years ago.  We are set back off the road about 250 feet.  During the summer we are very private due to all the woods along the front of our property.  However, in the fall and winter, we can see the road.  This year a developer built 2 huge Mc-Mansions across the street.  Our once private lot is no longer private.  We have talked to several landscapers about planting Norway Spruce to block these houses out.  Approx 8-10 feet tall.  However, my concern is that we are pretty wooded across the front of our property.  We'll cut out a lot of the "scrub" to make room for these trees and they'll get plenty of sun during the fall and winter.  However, in the spring and summer it will be pretty shadded.  Will these Norway Spruce trees do OK in this shadded area?
What can we do to help them adapt to this area?

Answer
Norway spruce should do well there as long as the soil is not too wet. They will grow in the shade as well as full sunlight. The most important thing is to plant them correctly. If you get a tree in a burlap ball make sure you dig the hole twice the size of the ball and back fill with good top soil or potting soil (cut the burlap bag off the root system before it is planted). Mulch around the newly planted tree about the same area as the new hole covered. Here is a web site that discribes Norway spruce and its needs. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry/Education/ohiotrees/sprucenorway.htm