Norway spruce ground development

[Inspector34]

I have 5 Norway spruce trees coming my way from a local nursery (gifted to me). They're all between 6-12", so quite young. They will be sending them to me in November because they recommend planting them in the ground in my specific area in the fall. I will be taking 2 and planting them as full trees on my property since I have lots of space. My question is: if I want to bonsai 2 of them, is there any benefit to planting them in the ground in the fall and protecting them through winter and then repot them in spring? Or will it provide no real growth benefit or health to the tree to do that over winter? Should I just keep them in the nursery pot in my outdoor shed for the winter and treat them as bonsai immediately?

They're sending me a few other species as well. Redbuds, dogwood, etc. So the same thing goes for some of those as well.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Norway Spruce do very well in their original growing containers on ground or in ground outside all winter. I have Alberta, birds nest, and Norway. All fine outside all year.

 

[Inspector34]

Thanks! I guess I’m more curious about whether or not planting it in the ground will actually provide any real benefit over the fall and winter vs keeping it in the nursery pot; even though I didn’t ask it that way……. I imagine it won’t matter too much as it is moving into the dormant period but I wasn’t sure if it would still grow at all during fall or winter or help strengthen the roots being in the ground during that time.

 

[Inspector34]

By the way, I saw your posted photos of your Norway spruces. Really beautiful. I hope to have a few to raise and work on in the coming years.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I would get the root structure where you want it first over a few years in training pots/containers, then grow out for trunk size in ground.

 

[Inspector34]

Then that’s what I’ll do. Thank you. In spring I’ll transfer them to some decent size grow boxes.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

By the way, I saw your posted photos of your Norway spruces. Really beautiful. I hope to have a few to raise and work on in the coming years.

Much appreciated Enjoy your Norway Spruce!