Identify this spruce tree?

[nowwhatnapster]

Hello. I recently purchased a home here in south west nub of Connecticut. I have a large "spruce?" tree in my front yard. I would like to identify its exact species and get some advice on what to do with it. Below are some photos to help identify. My best guess is either norway spruce or red spruce.

My neighbors seem to think it would be a good idea to cut down due to its size. I'm not so keen on the idea as it provides tremendous amounts of privacy. I haven't taken exact measurements of the trunk or width of the tree but the foliage covers the entire width of my home (minus the garage) so its at least 40ft wide.

It has never been trimmed. It has all its original limbs. When I bought the home there were several vines that had climbed all the way to the top and started creating some bald spots. I have chopped all those vines.

I think keeping it would be nice but my neighbors seem concerned due to its size. The smaller pine, which can be seen to the left in the 3rd photo down I want to remove because it is leaning, choked pretty bad by vines and bald on one side from growing next to the big pine. If I remove the little pine it won't hide the bald spot of the big pine. Will this ever fill back in and look normal? 

  

  

  

  

 

 

 

[beenthere]

You start talking about spruce, and then switch to "pine".
Do I read right that there is a large spruce tree and a small spruce tree?
As to Norway or red, looks like Norway to me.
http://northernwoodlands.org/knots_and_bolts/spruce-up-your-id-skills

As to the neighbors, doesn't look like it would reach their houses, but would yours.
Tough call whether to appease the neighbors or satisfy yourself.

Good to get the vines out, but doubt the spruce will completely fill in the bare spots. But may some.

[nowwhatnapster]

That would just be me mixing up terminology. Yes I believe they are all "spruce".

I will stop by tomorrow and see if what shape the needles are.

The pine cones on the tree are 4"+. Does that rule out red?

[beenthere]

 ;D

Meaning the "spruce" cones?  ;D   (teasing now ;) )

My Norway spruce (have been cutting about 50 out of a plantation this last week) have cones about 6" long. But suspect they can vary in length some.

I'll see if I can post some pics tomorrow of the Norway spruce needles and cones.

[SwampDonkey]

I would say Colorado blue, Norway has a yellowish green cast. And Colorado have 4" cones. I have 4 in the yard here.

I couldn't load the aerials on dial-up, they ,must be large uncompressed files.

[Jeff]

We had a system glitch where the last update of the gallery software has allowed the upload of png images. png images are not allowed as the server can not compress them. They were huge. So, I had to delete the aerial view shots.   

nowwhatnapster, you will need to save your images as JPG and upload those, then you can fix your first post. The png images were why swampdonkey could not view them.

[Clark]

Based on your one picture I'd say blue or Norway.  The drooping nature of the individual stems coming off the branch make me think Norway but the color of the needles and the length of cone indicated blue.  For all I know they have a cultivar of Norway that has the bluish cast of blue spruce and it would do better in the east. 

It seems like the cones of Norway also have a distinctive yellowish color to them, once they are dry but I'm not sure about blue spruce cones.

Clark

[nowwhatnapster]

I converted the photos to JPG. Yes, PNG is already compressed and its a lossless format so you can't compress it further.

I also added a street view of the tree which you can see the limb structure better. I feel the street view is a better representation of the color. Didn't get a chance today to take photos of needles and cones. Hopefully tomorrow.

[bill m]

Last photo looks like Norway Spruce to me.

[Jeff]

Norway.

[thecfarm]

Don't you dare have that tree cut down. If giving directions, when the leaves are off,just say,look for the biggest green tree in a front yard. Probably the neighbors have never liked it and are trying to get you to cut it down.  : I bet that cuts down on traffic noise too.

[SwampDonkey]

I can now see the tree form and foliage color better, so it looks like a Norway to me now.

[Ken]

My thinking is that is Norway as well.  The only way I would cut it out of my yard would be if it was showing signs of rot.  Nicest tree in the "hood".

[nowwhatnapster]

Picture of pine spruce cone. ;D Its been on the ground for a while.

I also measured the trunk, approximately 9'6" circumference at breast height or 36" diameter.


  

[Ron Scott]

Yes, to Norway spruce.

[m wood]

Yes to Norway from me too.  I think another 10' or 15' and you could sell it one year to the white house or rockefeller center.  Thats a shapely beauty!  Dang full clear to the ground.  My Norways are lucky to have 20% crown!
mark

[SwampDonkey]

Picture of pine spruce cone. ;D

Apparently, it's not 4", but 6-1/2". ;D

[beenthere]

cones on the tree are 4"+. Does that rule out red?

Estimated as 4" plus, to rule out red. ;)

[SwampDonkey]

Not sure red would survive unless up in the ridges of those hills where it is cooler. ;D

Years ago we had do gooders tell us our red spruce was disappearing. I say, bring a brush saw, I'll show ya more than you can count as I/we mow a few down. Right now I'm on a block, that is just about solid red spruce and fir, with hardwood or a cherry bush in the trails here and there. It's kinda tall for thinning, but I just work here. Asked the boss man if we get paid by the ton or the acre. :D

[petefrom bearswamp]

definitely Norway.
Years ago when I worked at a youth camp in western Albany county NY some of the inner city kids asked when they could pick those "bananas" on those big green trees.
pete