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Raised bed I – solid 60 mm European larchRaised bed IRaised bedsRaised bed L – solid 60 mm European larchRaised bed LRaised bedsRaised bed U – solid 60 mm European larchRaised bed URaised bedsBed I with bench – solid 60 mm European larchBed I with benchRaised bedsBed L with bench – solid 60 mm European larchBed L with benchRaised bedsSolid bench – solid 60 mm European larchSolid benchSeatingPedestal bench – solid 60 mm European larchPedestal benchSeatingBench with planter – solid 60 mm European larchBench with planterSeatingGarden table – solid 60 mm European larchGarden tableSeatingTable and two benches – solid 60 mm European larchTable and two benchesSeatingSandbox with seating – solid 60 mm European larchSandbox with seatingFor kidsGarden steps – solid 60 mm European larchGarden stepsSlope & terrace

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Tree · Pinaceae family

Picea abies

Picea abies

Full sun to part shade in a garden 4–6 m × 1.5–2.5 m to −40 °C

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years4–6 m
in the wild up to 35 m
spacing 8 m
PlantingMarch–April, September–October
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistloamyhumus-richsandy

Watering

do not waterlogonly in dry spellsless when it rains

Frost

−40 °C
no winter protectiongreen in winter too

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m4 m5 m6 m7 m8 m9 m10 m11 m12 m13 m14 m15 m16 m17 m18 m19 m20 m21 m22 m23 m24 m25 m26 m27 m28 m29 m30 m31 m32 m33 m34 m35 m12–35 mspread 8–12 m
12–35 m× spread 8–12 m

Plant 8 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Planting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberCheck: JanuaryCheck: FebruaryCheck: MarchCheck: AprilCheck: MayCheck: JuneCheck: JulyCheck: AugustCheck: SeptemberCheck: OctoberCheck: NovemberCheck: DecemberProtection: JanuaryProtection: FebruaryProtection: MarchProtection: AprilProtection: MayProtection: JuneProtection: JulyProtection: AugustProtection: SeptemberProtection: OctoberProtection: NovemberProtection: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PlantingFeedingCheckProtection
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant, root-balled).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, September–October; root-balled: March–April, September–October

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Check

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June: From 1 May to 15 June, shake the trees twice a week and catch weevils (pine/softwood). · Regularly check the base of trunks for frass and entry holes; empty pheromone traps every 7–14 days.

Protection

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April (spraying): In early April, horticultural oil or insecticidal soap against overwintering female scale insects. · Protection: Prepare trap trees (felled, limbed spruces) by the end of March at the latest, before the bark beetles swarm; monitor occupancy.

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 55 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

What you will see

Branches die back from the lower limbs upwards; sunken canker patches appear on the bark and white resin oozes out.

The source says: Norway softwood is very susceptible, especially 10- to 20-year-old trees.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water the tree regularly in dry spells and feed it; a weakened tree is more susceptible.
  2. By hand whenever the bark is dryCut out affected branches in dry weather about 20–25 cm below the visible damage; disinfect your tools after every cut.
Cytospora cankerdiseaseHigh risk

What you will see

Branches die back from the lower limbs upwards; sunken canker patches appear on the bark and white resin oozes out.

The source says: Norway softwood is very susceptible, especially 10- to 20-year-old trees.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water the tree regularly in dry spells and feed it; a weakened tree is more susceptible.
  2. By hand whenever the bark is dryCut out affected branches in dry weather about 20–25 cm below the visible damage; disinfect your tools after every cut.
More about this problem

Softwood gall adelgids

pest

What you will see

Pineapple-like galls form on the shoots; the needles become deformed.

How to protect

  1. Gentle spray early AprilHorticultural (paraffin) oil or insecticidal soap against overwintering females.
  2. Gentle spray MayInsecticidal soap against young stages.
Softwood gall adelgidspest

What you will see

Pineapple-like galls form on the shoots; the needles become deformed.

How to protect

  1. Gentle spray early AprilHorticultural (paraffin) oil or insecticidal soap against overwintering females.
  2. Gentle spray MayInsecticidal soap against young stages.

What you will see

Needles are faded, greyish to rusty brown, and laced with fine webbing.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water the tree sufficiently; wash mites off the leaves/needles with a strong jet of water.
  2. BiologicalSpare predatory mites and other natural enemies; do not use broad-spectrum insecticides.
  3. Gentle spray winter dormancy; in season as neededUltra-fine horticultural oil in winter dormancy against overwintering eggs; in season, oil at a low concentration spares predatory mites.
Softwood spider mitepest

What you will see

Needles are faded, greyish to rusty brown, and laced with fine webbing.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water the tree sufficiently; wash mites off the leaves/needles with a strong jet of water.
  2. BiologicalSpare predatory mites and other natural enemies; do not use broad-spectrum insecticides.
  3. Gentle spray winter dormancy; in season as neededUltra-fine horticultural oil in winter dormancy against overwintering eggs; in season, oil at a low concentration spares predatory mites.
More about this problem

European softwood bark beetle

Ips typographus
pest

What you will see

The first sign on a standing tree is frass (brown sawdust) at the base of the trunk and entry holes, often with resin flow (on a tree weakened by drought, resin may not appear). Then the needles change colour and drop, and the bark falls off. An infested tree can no longer be saved.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Prevention = remove what attracts the bark beetle: process windthrown and felled timber promptly so that the beetle cannot breed in it.
    • Monitor: in high-risk places (old infestation spots, fresh clearings, sunlit stand edges) check trees for frass and entry holes; check pheromone traps every 7–14 days.
  2. By hand before the adults emergeSanitation: remove infested timber from the stand as soon as possible (before the adult beetles emerge) or debark it; removal alone without prompt processing does not count. Fell and sanitise an infested standing tree.
  3. By hand fell trap trees by the end of MarchTrap trees: a felled, limbed tree propped up and covered with branches; check occupancy and add more when full. Pheromone traps are for monitoring flight and cleaning up remaining infestation spots.
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helpsDiscuss chemical sanitation of infested timber (only by a contractor) with a professional forester; a product authorised in your country against bark beetles.
European softwood bark beetlepest

What you will see

The first sign on a standing tree is frass (brown sawdust) at the base of the trunk and entry holes, often with resin flow (on a tree weakened by drought, resin may not appear). Then the needles change colour and drop, and the bark falls off. An infested tree can no longer be saved.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Prevention = remove what attracts the bark beetle: process windthrown and felled timber promptly so that the beetle cannot breed in it.
    • Monitor: in high-risk places (old infestation spots, fresh clearings, sunlit stand edges) check trees for frass and entry holes; check pheromone traps every 7–14 days.
  2. By hand before the adults emergeSanitation: remove infested timber from the stand as soon as possible (before the adult beetles emerge) or debark it; removal alone without prompt processing does not count. Fell and sanitise an infested standing tree.
  3. By hand fell trap trees by the end of MarchTrap trees: a felled, limbed tree propped up and covered with branches; check occupancy and add more when full. Pheromone traps are for monitoring flight and cleaning up remaining infestation spots.
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helpsDiscuss chemical sanitation of infested timber (only by a contractor) with a professional forester; a product authorised in your country against bark beetles.
Sources (8)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

Does Picea abies tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does Picea abies need?

At maturity 8–12 m wide and 12–35 m tall; recommended spacing 8 m.

Cytospora canker — what can you do?

Water the tree regularly in dry spells and feed it; a weakened tree is more susceptible. Cut out affected branches in dry weather about 20–25 cm below the visible damage; disinfect your tools after every cut.

Softwood gall adelgids — what can you do?

Horticultural (paraffin) oil or insecticidal soap against overwintering females.

Sources (14) Checked 24 October 2026

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