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Home → Publications → Tree Planters' Notes → Tree Planters' Notes Volume 22, Number 4 (1971) → White Spruce in Northern New York Root by Layering

White Spruce in Northern New York Root by Layering

Evidence has been found that white spruce reproduces naturally by layering. This information contradicts previous reports on this subject. Field- examination of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) branches by the author disclosed that some of the lower limbs, which had previously been bowed to the ground by snow pressure and subseciuently covered by litter had taken root. The trees were located adjacent to Paul Smiths, N.Y., on sandy loam soil with a coniferous litter layer averaging 2 inches in depth. The average annual. precipitation for this area is 30- 40 inches, of which 12 inches is snow. It is very common for the lower branches of white spruce to be bowed to the ground by the weight of the accumulated snow, a posture from which many of them never recover. During subsequent years, these branches, still connected to the main stem and viable, are covered with litter, remain in close contact with the moist soil, and evidently root ,by normal layering procedures. Such layering was observed on several trees averaging 3 to 5 inches DBH in the two areas investigated.


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Author(s): Grover B. Katzman

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 22, Number 4 (1971)

Volume: 22

Number: 4