two unknown fir trees i have

hi all

ok the first of these unknowns was given to me as a promotional item in my office....god knows what for, ive had to for about 2 years, but its only been this spring/ early summer thats it seems to have taken off with buds galore, any ideas what it is?




Secondly i saved this little guy from the skip at my friends house, i felt sorry for it, it was bone dry and brown....well anyways i've now had it 3 years an its looking semi shrub like now, the top had died off, so i cut it off, an basically pruned any dead growth off anyone know what it is?




thanks

 

The first looks to me like some kind of spruce (Picea.)

The second possibly a Fir (Abies)

 

Strangely Pete, I was thinking the other way around. The Christmas tree ( Abies ) first and the Spruce second.:D

 

Christmas tree is Norway Spruce, or it was when I was a kid.
These days I think they tend to use some Abies as Christmas trees, Noble Fir etc.

I tend to think Abies has a flatter wider needle.

 

Fantastic, thanks all

a question regarding the tree that isnt the christmas tree (spruce?) will this ever grow to be tree like, or is it destined to continue to grow like a shrub?

or is there anything i can do to make it grow upwards, rather than "outwards"

thanks once again.

 

I think both are capable of growing into trees, but not in pots.

They both look a bit yellow to me, which suggests they are not happy.

Pot growing of conifers is not easy to do well as they will require constant feeding during the growing season.

 

When the "lead" shoot dies out, take the strongest of the six radials immediately below it, bend it upwards and splint it with a piece of wood bound with string. It will then start to take the place of the lead shoot (it happens naturally in the forest and when it gets in line with the trunk it starts to grow straight up, like the original shoot). In time you will see a trunk with loop in it. I have a Norway Spruce which was used as a Christmas Tree, after two or three Christmas's it was planted outside in very cold weather and the frost cut the lead shoot. My wife was given the tree and I planted it in the garden. That was about 30 years ago and it is difficult now to make out where the loop is.

 

thanks for all the replies!

i noticed yesterday the tree has started to grow a upright stem, which i think is damn decent of it!!

i will keep you all informed of its progress