Overwintering guide
How to overwinter bird's nest spruce
Winter watering
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
The mistake that kills bird's nest spruce in winter
Cutting bird's nest spruce hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.
More bird's nest spruce care
- Overwintering norway spruce — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Overwintering bird's nest spruce — our other guide for the same plant
- Full bird's nest spruce care guide
- Bird's Nest Spruce temperature range
- How often to water bird's nest spruce
- How to prune bird's nest spruce
- Common bird's nest spruce problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering bird's nest spruce — FAQ
Does bird's nest spruce need to come indoors for winter?
Bird's Nest Spruce is hardy to roughly USDA zone 3 — winter lows around -40°C. That means it can stay outside all winter in most temperate gardens. Bird's Nest Spruce is properly hardy and overwinters outside without fuss. Tidy away anything dead or diseased, apply a mulch over the crown to steady soil temperatures, and otherwise leave it alone — many hardy plants actually need a cold period to flower and grow well the following year. Save hard pruning for the right season rather than doing it in autumn.
When should I move bird's nest spruce for winter?
Tidy and mulch in late autumn; leave the plant undisturbed until spring.
How often should I water bird's nest spruce in winter?
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
What kills bird's nest spruce over winter?
Cutting bird's nest spruce hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.