What does the bark of the spruce actually look like?
The bark of a spruce is red-brown, which gave it the name red spruce or red fir. The term “fir” is wrong, however, because it is a completely different tree with soft needles and cones. The red-brown of the spruce bark is more reddish or more brown, depending on the species, but always with a scaly bark layer.
also read
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- Interesting and useful things about the pine needles
Can I use spruce bark in any way?
There are several ways to use the bark of a spruce tree. The industry uses it to produce inexpensive bark mulch or packaging for cheese. Spruce bark can also be used as a vegetable tanning agent for tanning leather. Individual pieces of bark are ideal for handicrafts or decorating. However, you should check beforehand whether there is an infestation with bark beetles or fungi.
Do bark mulch made from spruce bark have any particular advantages?
The fibrous structure of the spruce bark is quite decorative, as is the darker color compared to the pine bark. The pH of the spruce bark, which is in the neutral to slightly acidic range, is beneficial for many plants. In this way, the necessary nutrients are freely available in the soil.
Why is my spruce losing its bark?
When a spruce loses its bark, it usually doesn't bode well. Often it is stuck Bark beetle behind, which can also kill the tree. The first signs of an infestation are small piles of bark flour at the foot of the spruce. A pheromone trap may help, but it can also attract other bark beetles. If the infestation is severe, the spruce can only be felled.
The essentials in brief:
- Bark color of young spruces: red-brown
- Bark color of older spruce trees: gray-brown
- in lower altitudes finely scaly instead of barky
- rather greyish in color at high altitudes
Tips
The Norway spruce can be recognized by its bark, it is barky and red-brown. The color has also given the tree the name red spruce.