I have a Norfork Pine in the house that has almost touched the cealing. How well can these trees be transplanted outdoors in N.C. Washington, zone 5. My next question is, when is a good time of year to trim the lower branches on a Norway Spruce. I saw a plant in town where the person had cut branches up 3 feet and basically turned it into a "weeping" Norway Pine. Very classic looking. Thanks for anyones input.
I put this on your other thread too, but Norfolk Island Pine is only hardy to about zone 9, so transplanting it outside is not really an option for you in zone 5.
Realistically, only hardy to zone 10 - most places in zone 9, they don't last very many years.
You can't turn a spruce into a pine just by pruning it . . . that takes massive genetic engineering . . . ;-)
but as for pruning a spruce to remove the lower branches, any time. The week before christmas (to provide greenery for the house) is as good as any. But it won't have any significant effect on the shape of the other branches, and you may find the gap at the base looks odd - a lot of people recommend not to cut them and say they look better with branches to the ground.
Resin
Thanks Resin. I think I will pull up a lawn chair next to the tree and contemplate its character by nature and probably leave it be to its own design.
Remember that branches that are to the ground are shading the soil and providing a cool, moister location for the roots. Pruning up will change that root zone environment to much dryer and warmer. Maybe not such a big deal if you are in the rainy part of Washington, but if you're on the other side of the mountains (east), I would think about reducing the change with some mulch under the tree.
Thats what I like about the forums in Daves Garden. Those, like Leftwood, who can enlighten me with a view not seen by my eyes alone. The answer is not to prune the lower branches. Good idea. Thanks. P.S. I live in the desert climate of Eastern Washington.
