Spruce: how literal is the "one injury per season" advice?

[sorce]

Maybe a week or two in spring and autumn our weather is similar.

LOL!

I think we had spring for a day or 2 in winter!

90F! F!

Sorce

 

[Paulpash]

I have fund that a Spruce put into stress appreciates a bit of dappled cool shade. I have done this a number of times.

I have spent many years wandering around Kielder Forest which has some of the largest stands of Spruce in Europe. I am amazed by how shade tolerant they are, often seeding and growing strongly in the stumps of their fallen comrades. I'd rate them on a par with Yew in terms of shade tolerance.