{"product_id":"sherwood-compact-norway-spruce","title":"Sherwood Compact Norway Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Dense, Compact Green Spruce for Small Spaces\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSherwood Compact Norway Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea abies\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sherwood Compact') is a slow, dense dwarf that builds a broadly conical to mounded form of deep green needles. Reaching around 3-5 feet over many years, it offers full, rich evergreen structure for foundations, entries, and compact gardens without outgrowing its space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSherwood Compact Norway Spruce Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePicea abies\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sherwood Compact'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSherwood Compact Norway Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow - 3-6 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; water deeply through the first two seasons.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen - dense, deep green needles\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood - deer rarely browse spruce; the stiff needles deter them.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot native; a European Norway spruce dwarf selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSherwood Compact Norway Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoundations \u0026amp; Entries\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA full, compact green form that anchors foundation beds and entry plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSmall-Yard Structure\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvides dependable evergreen mass in tighter landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Sherwood Compact Norway Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring through early fall all work, but late August through mid-September is ideal, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes. Water deeply once a week the first season and mulch to hold moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSherwood Compact Norway Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCompact specimen and accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSherwood Compact forms a dense, rounded mound of deep green just 3–5 feet tall and wide — a substantial evergreen accent that won't overwhelm a small yard. Use it as a focal point in a bed or beside an entry in Edina, Plymouth, or Maple Grove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoundation and low massing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts tidy size and slow growth make it ideal for foundation plantings or low evergreen massing. Plant 3–4 feet apart for a continuous low green mound along a walk or bed edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContainers and mixed beds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe compact form holds well in a large container for years, and its rich green sets off blue spruces, gold junipers, and perennials beautifully in a mixed planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-season interest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dense, deep-green needles hold their color and form through five months of Minnesota winter, providing reliable evergreen structure year-round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Sherwood Compact Norway Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor evergreens, the ideal window is \u003cstrong\u003elate August through mid-September\u003c\/strong\u003e, giving roots time to establish before the ground freezes and before winter wind can dry the needles. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws)\u003c\/strong\u003e is the second-best option. Avoid summer planting when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground and frost-heaving kill new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Sherwood Compact Norway Spruce\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, the same depth as the ball. Heavy clay benefits from an even wider hole.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't create a pure-compost \"container\" the roots won't leave.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — 3–4 feet apart for low massing; 5+ feet for individual specimens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater basin — build a 3–4 inch ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove it before winter to avoid ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch — 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood-chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Sherwood Compact Norway Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches\/month June–August)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive one deep watering in early December if fall was dry — evergreens lose moisture through their needles all winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished plants only need supplemental water during droughts (2+ weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Water deeply and infrequently — every 7–14 days during dry spells, soaking to 6–8 inches depth. Let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Sherwood Compact Norway Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily. Norway spruce is hardy to roughly -40°F (zone 3), so a Twin Cities winter is no challenge. Water deeply in late fall and keep the root zone mulched the first year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt stays compact — about 3–5 feet tall and wide — and grows slowly, holding its dense rounded shape for many years without crowding its neighbors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce — the stiff needles are unpalatable — making it dependable even in high-pressure deer suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need full sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — give it full sun (6+ hours) for the densest growth. It tolerates light shade but grows looser with less light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a prostrate, groundcovering Norway spruce for slopes and walls.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Alberta Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a classic dense, cone-shaped dwarf evergreen for formal accents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHowell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a small two-tone dwarf with silver-flashing needles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a soft, ball-shaped dwarf arborvitae for low edging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#7 Gallon","offer_id":54295926178097,"sku":"GT-E1275","price":196.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#15 Gallon","offer_id":54295926210865,"sku":"GT-E1281","price":229.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/sherwood-compact-norway-spruce.jpg?v=1779469309","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/sherwood-compact-norway-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}