Question

Globe Bush   Hi, I live in Alaska and our extreme snowy winter this year destroyed some of our spruce globes, they are 10 years old about 3ft. around.  the branches are exposed in the middle where the snow was packed on them, is there any way to save them?
Thanks

Answer
Hello Shanlynne

Ok - yes, you can do something to give them their shape back, but it is a bit fiddley!

You will need some fairly stout wire, wire cutters and another pair of hands!.

Working from the inside of the globe to the outside, identify stems which are as nearly opposite each other as possible.  Pull them, gently, towards each other until the green touches at the center of the bush.  

Get your helper to measure the distance between the stems about half way down.  Cut a piece of wire about 2 times as long as the distance and bend each end into a hook.

Attach one hooked end to one of the stems and the hook at the other end of the wire to the other stem to hold them together.

Continue doing this with all the other inner stems.  

Once that's done begin lifting the outer stems and wiring them onto the 'treated' stems, until all of them are supported in the globe shape.

It wont look perfect at this stage, but once the green tips begin to grow you will be able to begin trimming the globes into shape.

The supports will have to be permanent because I don't think that the stems will ever be strong enough to hold themselves up - but you never know with plants!

Now - they do say that prevention is better than cure!  so here's something you can do before the winter really sets in.  

Drive 4-6 stakes into the ground around each globe, far enough away from the plant that you can tie the tops together like a 'teepee' without any of the greenery being outside the teepee .

Wrap small gauge chicken wire around the teepee and then wrap something like burlap or horticultural fleece around the whole lot and tie it on securely.

When it snows it will be caught on the covering and because the teepee will be quite steep it may even slide off.  Either way none of the weight of the snow should rest on the plant!

I hope that you can follow the instructions above and that your plants appreciate your efforts by growing beautifully for you!

Gill