How do you identify an Engelmann spruce?
prickly to the touch) Engelmann spruce needles are single (1) on the twig, pointed, sharp to the touch, four-sided, same color on all sides, and are up to 1 inch long. Needles radiate in all directions on twig. The older twigs from which needles have fallen have stubby pegs on them. Tree bark is scaly.
What is Engelmann spruce good for?
Common Uses: Construction lumber, sheathing, railroad ties, wood pulp, and papermaking; also used occasionally in place of Sitka Spruce on guitars and other musical instrument soundboards. Comments: Engelmann Spruce is slightly lighter and weaker than Sitka Spruce, but still has a good stiffness-to-weight ratio.
Where is Engelmann spruce found?
Engelmann spruce is a major component of the high-elevation Rocky Mountain forests, growing in the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Alberta, south through the high mountains of eastern Washington and Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana to western and central Wyoming, and in the high mountains of southern Wyoming.
Is Engelmann spruce evergreen?
Picea engelmannii (Engelmann Spruce) is a large evergreen conifer of narrowly conical habit in youth, becoming cylindrical with age. Its branches descend to sweep the ground and conceal the trunk.
How fast does Engelmann spruce grow?
The trees grow rather slowly, reaching mature size in about 150 years, but may live 400 or more years.
What is the scientific name for Engelmann spruce?
Picea engelmanniiEngelmann spruce / Scientific name
Which spruce is best for guitar?
Sitka Spruce
Top Woods. Arguably the most common tonewood, Sitka Spruce is a well-rounded tonewood, one suited for many styles of playing. It’s known for its tight grain pattern and its high stiffness and relative lightness, translating to a broad dynamic range that stands up well when strummed heartily.
How fast do Engelmann spruce trees grow?
Growth Rate: Slow, growth rate maxes at 60 centimeters (24 inches) annually. First-year seedlings may be only a few inches tall, including the root system and above-ground section.
How do you grow Engelmann spruce?
Engelmann spruce grows well in fertile, deep, well-drained, slightly acidic soils. The best soil pH range is 5.1-7.3, making both sandy soil or slightly clay-like soil good choices. As the tree grows slowly and has a long life span, the soil layer should be about 70 cm thick.
How long do spruce trees live?
In the wild, the Colorado blue spruce can live 200 years or more. In the home landscape, it usually stays healthy for about 40 to 60 years, after which its health begins to fail, according to Northern State University.
Does a spruce tree have cones?
Many conifers, including spruces, firs and Douglas-fir, produce cones in a two-year cycle. Cone buds are produced in the first year and then cones develop and mature in the second year.
What is the best guitar tone wood?
Mahogany, mainly used in the acoustic world, for back and sides. It is the most commonly used hardwood because it’s relatively economical, durable, attractive, easy to work with and resonant. Mahogany became popular in guitars because it is attractive and cheaper to get than rosewood.
What is the best wood to make a guitar out of?
Spruce: Spruce is the most common top wood. Spruce is light but strong and comes in a number of varieties with the most common variety for guitar tops being Sitka Spruce.
Do spruce trees need a lot of water?
Most varieties of spruce trees have a medium to high need for moisture. Spruce trees do not tolerate drought conditions so proper watering is imperative to their health.
What kills the tops of spruce trees?
That Frigid Winter Wind Damages Tops of Trees
The tops of tall pine and spruce trees are especially vulnerable, way up high where the wind is even stronger and colder. Evergreens like spruce lose precious moisture through their needles. Damaged needles turn brown and the tree starts to die at the top.
Do spruce trees have gender?
Each spruce tree carries male and female cones. The larger female cones contain ovules, which develop into egg cells, or female gametophytes. To reproduce, the smaller male cones let loose grains of pollen, which are the male gametophytes.
Can you eat spruce cones?
Whether you create a spruce needle tea, or nibble on soft edible shoots, or cones, Spruce is a delicious wild edible that can be harvested any time of year. As your taste buds slowly adjust you’ll enjoy this plant raw or cooked and realize how important and valuable it is.
What is the most resonant wood?
Honduras Rosewood, a very unique wood with unparalleled sound qualities grows in the heart of Central America. The beauty of its resonance can even be heard on a raw-cut piece of wood Honduras Rosewood, which is also known for its hardness and durability.
Which is better mahogany or spruce?
Mahogany guitars sound smoother and warmer compared to spruce top guitars which sound brighter and more crisp. This is because mahogany produces more bass and mid-range emphasis compared to spruce which has more treble emphasis.
What wood has the best tone?
Arguably the most common tonewood, Sitka is a well-rounded tonewood, one suited for many styles of playing. It’s known for its tight grain pattern and its high stiffness and relative lightness, translating to a broad dynamic range that stands up well when strummed heartily.
Should I mulch around spruce trees?
Don’t mulch too closely: Mulch around the tree, but don’t mulch against the tree. The ring should be a few inches away from the trunk and no mulch should make contact with the tree. If mulch does rest against the tree, you can cause mold and mildew a place to thrive, and they will attack the tree.
What do spruce trees need to survive?
The blue spruce will thrive on any fertile, moisture-retentive but free draining soil with a neutral to acidic pH. Grow in a sunny spot. It does not need pruning. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring to encourage healthy growth.
Why are so many spruce trees dying?
There are three principle types of diseases that affect blue spruce trees: needlecasts, tip blights and canker diseases. All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem.
Can you cut the bottom branches of a spruce tree?
Spruce, fir, and whorl-branched trees and shrubs that have short, sharp needles can be trimmed all the way back to a lateral branch or dormant bud; dead bottom branches should be removed. Though you can hold off a little longer with these trees, it’s best to cut in cold weather so that they “bleed” less sap.
Do trees have souls?
According to the bible only humans have souls, therefore trees do not have souls. Trees and humans relate to each other because we keep each other alive, we help trees . . . [and] they help us with materials and breathing.