Hi all -- I have two dwarf alberta spruces in full sun areas, one a spiral
topiary in a big container and the other a conical one planted in the ground
in my front yard border bed. A couple of weeks ago, Adrian Higgins, the
gardening editor for the Washington Post, said in one of his columns that
alberta spruces planted in full sun run a high risk of infestation from some
kind of mites (I can't remember what kind though). I'm wondering if anyone
here has had that experience? I'm trying to figure out if I should move my
albertas to a shadier spot to avoid damage to the trees.

Thanks,

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7


******************
Each of us, a cell of awareness
imperfect and incomplete
Genetic blends with uncertain ends
on a fortune-hunt that's far too fleet

"Natty_Dread" wrote in message
m...
Hi all -- I have two dwarf alberta spruces in full sun areas, one a spiral
topiary in a big container and the other a conical one planted in the
ground
in my front yard border bed. A couple of weeks ago, Adrian Higgins, the
gardening editor for the Washington Post, said in one of his columns that
alberta spruces planted in full sun run a high risk of infestation from
some
kind of mites (I can't remember what kind though). I'm wondering if
anyone
here has had that experience? I'm trying to figure out if I should move
my
albertas to a shadier spot to avoid damage to the trees.

Thanks,

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7

http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/en...dwrfalsp.html\

This article says that they can be victims of red spider mites..these mites
are extremely common.
The best contol is to hit the folliage everyday with a hard hose spray. They
are very small and this
is a non invasive control that works.

alice
Weaverville, NC
zone 6a

"Natty_Dread" wrote in message
m...
Hi all -- I have two dwarf alberta spruces in full sun areas, one a spiral
topiary in a big container and the other a conical one planted in the
ground
in my front yard border bed. A couple of weeks ago, Adrian Higgins, the
gardening editor for the Washington Post, said in one of his columns that
alberta spruces planted in full sun run a high risk of infestation from
some
kind of mites (I can't remember what kind though). I'm wondering if
anyone
here has had that experience? I'm trying to figure out if I should move
my
albertas to a shadier spot to avoid damage to the trees.


I have three. One is a spiral topiary. One was an existing tree that I
pruned into a spiral. The third was an existing tree that I moved to a new
location when it got too big. All are in the ground. Two are in full sun
and one gets morning and filtered afternoon sun. They can get spider mites
and as has been suggested, you can hose them down to control the mites. If
you think yours are infested, hold a piece of white paper under the branches
and gently shake the tree. The mites will show up as tiny red specks on the
paper. I haven't had any problems yet. I believe that the issue of them
being in full sun probably is because full sun assures that they stay nice
and dry. The mites like a dry environment. Using the hose will fix that.

Natty_Dread wrote:
Hi all -- I have two dwarf alberta spruces in full sun areas, one a
spiral topiary in a big container and the other a conical one
planted in the ground in my front yard border bed. A couple of
weeks ago, Adrian Higgins, the gardening editor for the Washington
Post, said in one of his columns that alberta spruces planted in
full sun run a high risk of infestation from some kind of mites (I
can't remember what kind though). I'm wondering if anyone here has
had that experience? I'm trying to figure out if I should move my
albertas to a shadier spot to avoid damage to the trees.

Sunset's Western Garden Book says: Spruces need full sun but do not
tolerate heat or humidity.

--

Travis in Shoreline (just North of Seattle) Washington
USDA Zone 8
Sunset Zone 5

"alice" wrote in
:


"Natty_Dread" wrote in message
m...
Hi all -- I have two dwarf alberta spruces in full sun areas, one a
spiral topiary in a big container and the other a conical one planted
in the ground
in my front yard border bed. A couple of weeks ago, Adrian Higgins,
the gardening editor for the Washington Post, said in one of his
columns that alberta spruces planted in full sun run a high risk of
infestation from some
kind of mites (I can't remember what kind though). I'm wondering if
anyone
here has had that experience? I'm trying to figure out if I should
move my
albertas to a shadier spot to avoid damage to the trees.

Thanks,

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7

http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/en...hrubs/dwrfalsp
.html\

This article says that they can be victims of red spider mites..these
mites are extremely common.
The best contol is to hit the folliage everyday with a hard hose
spray. They are very small and this
is a non invasive control that works.

alice
Weaverville, NC
zone 6a

My experience has been that Dwarf Alberta Spruce, being a native to
mountainous high altitude areas with excellent drainage, can suffer in our
humid, sweltering summers here in the Midatlantic Zone 7. If one can create
a suitable climate (good ventilation, excellent drainage, frequent misting
of foliage, acidic soil) then they do much better.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums

I have seen Dwarf Alberta's get mites if they are planted too close to a
house.

"David Bockman" wrote in message
9.11...
"alice" wrote in
:


"Natty_Dread" wrote in message
m...
Hi all -- I have two dwarf alberta spruces in full sun areas, one a
spiral topiary in a big container and the other a conical one planted
in the ground
in my front yard border bed. A couple of weeks ago, Adrian Higgins,
the gardening editor for the Washington Post, said in one of his
columns that alberta spruces planted in full sun run a high risk of
infestation from some
kind of mites (I can't remember what kind though). I'm wondering if
anyone
here has had that experience? I'm trying to figure out if I should
move my
albertas to a shadier spot to avoid damage to the trees.

Thanks,

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7

http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/en...hrubs/dwrfalsp
.html\

This article says that they can be victims of red spider mites..these
mites are extremely common.
The best contol is to hit the folliage everyday with a hard hose
spray. They are very small and this
is a non invasive control that works.

alice
Weaverville, NC
zone 6a

My experience has been that Dwarf Alberta Spruce, being a native to
mountainous high altitude areas with excellent drainage, can suffer in our
humid, sweltering summers here in the Midatlantic Zone 7. If one can
create
a suitable climate (good ventilation, excellent drainage, frequent misting
of foliage, acidic soil) then they do much better.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums