Colorado Blue Spruce Windbreak Spacing and Planting Protocol

Planting 4-foot Colorado blue spruce for a single-row windbreak. How far apart?

Spacing Options

• 10 ft apart: Branches meet at base—open, natural look.
• 5–6 ft apart: Forms near-solid wall faster; higher maintenance.
• Double staggered row (10 ft between rows, 10 ft in-row): Denser screen, double the trees.

Planting Protocol

• Hole: 2× root ball width and depth.
• Backfill: quality topsoil or potting mix.
• Mulch: 3 inches pine straw, off trunk.
• Water: 1 inch weekly first year (pan method).

Blue spruce matures at 30–60 ft tall, 10–20 ft wide. Plan for mature spread even in windbreaks.