Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips
Melinda Myers
Nationally known gardening expert, TV/Radio host, author & columnist with over 30 years of horticulture experience and tons of gardening information to share! www.melindamyers.comMelinda's Garden Moment videos will help you create that beautiful landscape you’ve always wanted. Each week throughout the growing season, a new gardening video will be added right here, so be sure to stop back. You can also watch Melinda’s Garden Moments on your local network TV station affiliate.
Don’t be alarmed if your dwarf Alberta spruce appears to have a larger tree sprouting from its more compact form. This bizarre growth is not uncommon and is the result of genetic reversion.
This dwarf conifer originated from a mutation discovered on a white spruce, a tree that normally grows 40 to 60 feet tall. The mutation resulted in compact growth that was used to propagate this slow growing, dense compact tree.
Occasionally a branch of dwarf Alberta spruce will undergo a reverse mutation and grow into the larger more robust white spruce. Simply remove the larger branch back to the branch bark collar, the swollen area next to the trunk. In the future do this as soon as possible to prevent it from taking over and ruining the size and shape of your dwarf spruce.
And don’t worry, your plant will be fine.