Norway Spruce

[Jeff]

Albert writes:

I have 20 acres of mature norway spruce trees. my question is, do they have any value and what are they mainly used for?

Thankyou for your time, albert

[Ron Scott]

Norway spruce is not native to North America, it is a European species. It is most used as a common ornamental. It has been used in plantations in the East where it grows more rapidly than the native species such of white or red spruce. It has some timber value depending upon its size, but is most suitable for diversity in the landscape with its drooping foliage for aesthetics, windbreaks, and wildlife thermal and escape cover. The resinous bark exudations furnish the so called Burgundy pitch which is the basic material for a number of varnishes and medicinal compounds. The new leafy shoots are often used in brewing spruce beer.  

[Ron Wenrich]

The only use that I have seen for Norway spruce is for local construction lumber.  I know of no other market.

I have sawn a handfull of Norway spruce.  It is hard to saw, due to all the knots.  A slower feed rate is needed to saw straight lumber.  

[Ron Scott]

The trees transplant well with the "tree spade". I had a client who didn't want to wait for the young trees to grow-up so he had a tree company come in and transplant about a dozen large trees,4-6" diameter class, from his outlying forest stand of Norway spruce, and relocate them in front of his cabin for an aesthetic screen, windbreak, and wildlife cover and travel corridor. After 4 years they all are still doing well and serving the purpose intended. They added an attractive landscape.  

[marty]

Hey Ron What I'm wanting to do is build cover for the deer on my place. I had ten acres cut this June-July and some of the new popple growth is almost five foot high now. I have one area about acre and a half that has no popple coming cause it had all oaks there that were mature that the wood cutters took. I was thinking about red pines and white spruce but was told by a fellow that the deer will eat the white spruce. Should I go with red pines and norways instead or do you have some other mixture that would come up faster and provide better cover?   thanks.......marty

[Ron Scott]

Planting either red pine or white spruce would be good for the thermal and escape cover. With the new aspen growth nearby preferred by the deer, the conifers should be ok. They will also add some diversity to your landscape. You will need to keep your deer herd in check though.

[Jeff]

Marty, Let me know if you need help with that last bit of advice from Ron!  

[marty]

the only help I need is to find some deer and turn loose on my place.  I'm in the famous dmu 452. With four years of unlimited doe permits the deer are far and few between. I just trying to make my place the hotel Hilton for the few deer that's left. If this winter keeps on pace we won't have to worry about keeping the deer in check mother nature will do it for us Thanks for all the info.......marty

[Bill Johnson]

Marty, I have a question, why wouldn't you consider planting/transplanting white cedar for the deer. Would they not provide better thermal cover than spruce or pine, as they grew older and couldn't they be used as a supplemental food source for the deer?

[marty]

My bud gave me some to try and the deer thought they were better than steak to us. Just looking for something for cover so far they left my pines alone.......marty

[Ron Scott]

Yes, deer are a major problem in trying to regenerate northern white cedar, a favorite food source. Even sapling and pole size trees will have a high browse line.