Main Differences
Evergreen coniferous trees are very similar in appearance, but they have quite a lot of differences. First of all, you should take into account that they grow in different natural zones.
Spruce is a more frost-resistant type of coniferous tree , more common in the northern hemisphere, often growing as a dense forest or as part of a mixed forest. It can grow up to 40 meters up and reaches no more than 2 meters in width, which is why most often they are easily blown away by strong gusts of wind.
Fir, on the other hand, is not so frost-resistant, so it grows mainly in the Caucasus , in the southern part of Siberia, and is also common in the Primorsky Territory. It grows up to 60 meters in height, the first decade of growth is minimal - about 10 cm per year. At the same time, it is very sensitive to climate and the amount of moisture in the soil. The crown is shaped like a pyramid, the trunk is straight and smooth.
Description of trees
The difference in growth, by the way, is not accidental - it directly indicates what conditions each tree prefers. A tall pine tree reaches out to the sun with all its might: although in the places where it grows it is not distinguished by its ability to truly warm, but the tree tries to squeeze the maximum out of what nature can give. The spruce tree cannot be called a baby, but still its goals are completely different - it prefers shade, and therefore does not strive to outgrow its neighbors.
Both trees are considered evergreen because they do not have leaves - instead they are covered with dense needles. At the same time, most people determine the difference precisely by this, since the fir tree is short, but richly green, while the pine puts all its efforts into increasing its length, “forgetting” about the bright pigmentation. In addition, in pine trees a partial fall of needles is observed during a certain period, but for spruce this phenomenon does not have a seasonal expression.
How to tell the difference?
There are several basic signs that will help you determine exactly which tree is in front of you: spruce or fir.
- Needles. If we compare the needles of fir and Christmas tree, we can say that fir needles are much softer, non-thorny, have white tints on the sides, while spruce needles are prickly, have a tip that resembles a real needle, they are much harder than those of fir.
The needles are also arranged differently: in fir they are planted much more often than in spruce.
Also, the needles of trees differ in size: those of fir are longer, and those of spruce are short. Life expectancy also varies: fir needles live about 12 years longer.
- Crown. The shape of the fir resembles a regular pyramid, while the shape of the fir tree has an asymmetry.
- Smell. The smell of a Christmas tree evaporates much faster, while that of a fir lasts a long time.
- Cones. In spruce trees they hang, and in fir trees they look up, resembling rows of candles. After ripening, fir cones crumble into particles, leaving a bare core, while on spruce, after ripening, the cone just begins to open, without crumbling anything.
- Branches. Fir trees look flat due to the fact that they are densely planted with needles parallel to each other; spruce needles grow chaotically, so the branches are visually more voluminous.
- Bark. Fir has a very smooth bark, without any inclusions or irregularities, while spruce, on the contrary, has a rough, very thin, resinous trunk. The color of the bark is ash-gray, while that of fir is light grayish.
- Seeds. They are very similar in appearance, but the seeds of a fir tree are firmly connected to the wing, while those of a spruce tree are easily separated from the wings.
As you can see, fir and spruce have a lot of differences that can be noticed if you try. It should also be noted that the fir tree can reproduce by layering.
Description of trees
Pine and spruce are similar-looking trees that are “relatives”. Plants are distinguished by their unpretentiousness to climatic conditions. In addition, these conifers are considered long-lived. On average, trees live about 300 years.
Norway spruce is a large tree, reaching a height of 25-30 m. The bark has a smooth structure, and the crown is cone-shaped. The arrangement of branches is whorled. The needles are renewed slowly and gradually; there is no deciduous period.
Pine is a tree, 25-40 m high. The trunk of the plant is straight, but can be bent as a result of pest damage. Young trees have a cone-shaped crown, which over time acquires a rounded shape. Compared to spruce, pine has a different cone structure.
Both plants produce phytoncides and are used as decorative decorations for the New Year holidays.
Difference in care
Both trees are shade-loving and do not require special care. But there are several points that you should know and follow, otherwise you may be left without beautiful vegetation.
To plant a fir tree, you should choose an open area; the presence of a slight shade is possible. The composition of the soil should be neutral, good drainage is encouraged. Unlike fir, spruce is not as demanding on the soil and planting site. This is its advantage. A shady place and soil with a high moisture content are suitable for spruce. In addition, it is more frost-resistant, this can also be considered an advantage, since most latitudes of our country have cold winters, and spruce easily tolerates severe frosts even as a young seedling.
The main difference between these two trees is that they adapt to the terrain differently. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the root of the tree: it must be closed.
Otherwise, it may dry out, which will put the normal survival of the seedling into question.
For fir, the amount of moisture in the soil is not important. These seedlings are usually well rooted.
The fir crown does not require formation; it grows independently in the correct shape in the form of a pyramid. And the greenery of the Christmas tree needs to be trimmed, dried trunks removed, and the length evened out.
Fir easily tolerates dry weather, and the tree should always be moistened.
Fir requires constant feeding until the age of 3, but the Christmas tree does not need such nutrition.
After comparing all the criteria, we can conclude that each tree is good in its place. For example, it is better to use fir for decorative growing, while ordinary spruce is ideal for making furniture and construction. It should also be noted that fir is more demanding in care, so its cultivation requires greater physical and material costs.
How to distinguish fir from spruce, see below.
The difference between fir and spruce can be found by examining the crown in detail: the structure and size of the needles, the color of the branches, and the growth of the cones are different. The distribution area of trees is different, so the requirements for the place of growth are also different. Visually, the trees are very similar to each other.
Spruce and pine cones
The cones of these two conifers also have their own differences. There are male and female pine cones. In spring, light yellow inflorescences grow on young branches. These are male bumps, they are very small, like a pea. Female cones are initially just as small, only located one at a time at the end of the branch. At first it is difficult to see them in the thick pine needles. An adult pine cone resembles a spinning top. The seeds ripen in the second year after pollination.
Spruce cones are also male and female. They develop differently. Female cones are initially bright red in color and the size of a hazelnut. They are located at the top of the crown. Male cones have a yellowish tint; pollen ripens in them. Mature cones hang downward and look like cigars. The first seeds ripen in trees 20 years old and older.
What is the difference between spruce and fir
Evergreen coniferous crops belong to the Pine family, this is where their similarities end; representatives belong to different genus. Frost-resistant spruce (Picea) is common in the Northern Hemisphere. In the wild it forms dense forests. In Central Europe it is part of mixed forest belts. Spruce grows up to 40 m tall and is long-lived. Forms a pyramidal crown, straight trunk, light brown with a gray tint, scaly, rough bark.
Fir (Abies) is less frost-resistant, is demanding on the place of growth, the tree requires high humidity and a certain soil composition. In Russia it is less common than spruce. It differs in the speed of vegetation. Up to 10 years of age, growth is minimal. It grows up to 60 m, its life expectancy is much longer, this is another characteristic by which representatives of conifers differ. Found in the Primorsky Territory, the Caucasus, the Far East, and the southern part of Siberia. The photo shows that the Christmas tree and fir have visual differences from each other. The fir has a regular pyramidal crown, a straight, smooth, dark gray trunk. It does not have resin channels; the resin accumulates on the surface of the branches and trunk in small bubble pockets.
Christmas trees are used as a building material for furniture, houses, and musical instruments. The white color allows the wood to be used for making pulp and paper. The resin is used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fir is a more fragile wood; it is used only for paper production. The structure of the trunk is not resinous, and is short-lived as a building material. This property has found application in the manufacture of food containers. It is not widely used in medicine.
Mechanical and technological properties of coniferous wood
The production and processing features of softwood lumber depend on these properties.
Strength
Coniferous trees have the ability to withstand destructive mechanical influences. Its indicator is related to the direction of impact, density, humidity and quality of the tree.
During testing, different forces are applied to the sample.
Stretching.
All types of wood, when stretched along the grain, have a tensile strength of no more than 130 MPa. This indicator primarily depends on the structure of the material. A small disturbance in the structure of the fibers is enough for the strength to decrease significantly.
Tension of wood across the fibers shows low strength of only 6.5 MPa.
Compression
The compression rate along the fibers of a coniferous tree is 2–3 times lower than the stretch rate in the same direction.
The resistance to longitudinal compression is more than five times higher than the transverse compression in the radial and tangential directions.
Bend
The specimen is tested for bending under tension and compression. The strength of coniferous material during bending is twice as high as that when compressed along the fibers.
If a tree bends easily, then it is considered flexible, viscous and elastic. Thanks to its good elasticity, the tree always returns to its original shape.
Strength of different types of softwood
Hardness
The hardness of wood depends on its resistance to the penetration of a foreign body. When determining hardness using the Brinell method, the wood is pressed with force.
100 kg ball 10 mm made of metal. In one species, the hardness changes in different places of the cut.
The hardness of the material is important when working with cutting tools: milling, sawing.
Hardness of different types of softwood
Impact strength
During deformation and destruction from impact loads, wood absorbs energy. This property of the material is called impact strength. It is measured by the expended energy of a load that falls from a certain height. The more work required to damage the sample, the higher the viscosity.
Impact strength of different types of softwood
Elasticity
Coniferous wood restores its original shape when mechanical stress stops. This ability is explained by the elasticity of the material. The modulus of elasticity determines the force that must be applied along the grain for the wood to deform 100%.
Modulus of elasticity for different types of softwood
5. Resistance to splitting and chipping
In splitting tests, the wood is divided into pieces along the grain with a wooden wedge. Cleavage (splitting) occurs, which depends on the viscosity of the material. Resistance to splitting increases due to various wood defects, for example, from knots.
When chipping, the sample is destroyed across the fibers, for example, by sawing. In this case, the strength is higher than during splitting.
Resistance to splitting of different types of softwood wood Splitting strength of different types of softwood wood
Wear resistance
The surface of the material resists destruction during friction. This property is called wear resistance. It depends on the hardness and density of the wood.
The higher the hardness, the higher the wear resistance. High humidity increases wear.
Wear resistance of different types of softwood
7. Holding the metal fastener
Thanks to its elasticity, wood holds nails and screws. The material resists removal of the fastener. The holding force depends on the moisture content and density of the wood, as well as on the size of the fastening elements. The direction in relation to the fibers under which the fastener enters the material is of great importance.
Ability to hold fasteners of various types of softwood
The durability and quality of constructed structures, manufactured furniture and carpentry depend on the correct choice of coniferous wood species.
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Which is better: fir or spruce for the New Year?
When choosing a Christmas tree or fir for the New Year, pay attention to the appearance of the tree. New Year's tree is a collective term used to decorate a spruce, pine or fir tree. Nurseries offer a variety of conifers with full characteristics. If you purchase a holiday attribute at a city fair, you need to know how conifers differ and what will last longer in a heated room.
What costs longer – a Christmas tree or a fir?
At low temperatures there is no difference between a spruce and a fir; the trees retain their needles for a long time. In a heated room, place the tree in a container with wet sand, place it away from heating devices, and constantly moisten the sand. This method helps to increase the shelf life of trees. If the conditions are met, Picea will stand for no more than 6 days and shed its needles.
Abies compares favorably with this quality; it can last for more than 1 month, maintaining its aesthetic appearance. The needles do not fall off, they just dry out. It is more difficult to purchase a tree; it is rarely put up for sale, and the price offer is much higher. Conifers differ from each other in the duration of crown preservation.
What smells stronger - spruce or fir?
Fir differs in smell from spruce, because it does not have resin channels, the enzyme accumulates on the surface of the branches. If a tree is brought into a room from the cold, the persistent smell of coniferous forest immediately spreads. It lasts a long time, more than 4 days. Spruce spreads a less intense smell and does not last more than a day. Representatives of the Pine family are also distinguished by this feature.
Where can you buy a Christmas tree?
You can buy a Christmas tree:
- in the forestry (having received permission to cut down a Christmas tree);
- in a conifer nursery;
- in shops;
- at Christmas markets.
Thus, in the Moscow region, the main trade at Christmas tree markets will begin on December 20. In total, Christmas tree markets are planned to operate in 49 municipalities of the region until January 10, 2022.
“We are very proud that this year about 70% of trees will be Russian-made at prices ranging from 500 rubles to 10 thousand rubles of different categories and heights. I hope that every resident of the Moscow region will find their tree,” said Sergei Voskresensky, Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Moscow Region .
The difference between spruce and fir in planting and care
Externally similar conifers are radically different when planted. Open areas are chosen for fir; partial shade is allowed. The soil is neutral, well drained. Spruce is less demanding of space, which makes it stand out. Shade and moist soil are suitable for it; it grows in any soil composition. The species differ in frost resistance; spruce easily tolerates low temperatures; young seedlings do not require shelter for the winter.
They differ in their survival rate in a new place; when planting, a Christmas tree seedling is purchased with its root closed; if it dries out at the slightest level, it will not take root. Humidity is not important for fir planting material. The plant always takes root well. Care of the species differs. The fir crown does not require formation; it grows evenly, maintaining strict shapes. Spruce branches require equalization of length and removal of dry fragments. The types differ in their watering requirements. The fir root system tolerates drought well, spruce requires constant soil moisture. There are differences in the application of fertilizing, fir requires fertilizers up to 3 years of growth, the fir tree does not need additional nutrition.
Top dressing
Despite all its unpretentiousness, spruce definitely needs a supply of nutrients. Fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are strictly undesirable. They cannot be used during planting or mulching. Growth stimulation is achieved in a simpler way - using compost. In terms of 1 sq. m consume from 3 to 5 kg of compost.
It must be remembered that photosynthesis in conifers is weaker than in deciduous trees (affected by the smaller total area of foliage). A small portion of magnesium can improve it. Therefore, dolomite flour is used for liming Christmas trees, which compensates for the deficiency of this microelement.
Choosing a fertilizer that does not contain nitrogen and has a lot of magnesium is not everything. It should contain at least 10-12 microelements. Only then can fertilizing be carried out fully. The choice between Russian and imported fertilizers is not very important. It is much more important that the composition meets the basic quality criteria.
Caring for a spruce tree in winter is not too difficult - you must first of all make sure that the branches are not overloaded with snow. They may even break under stress. In the first year of development, plants must be covered. The necessary protection will be provided by an improvised “wigwam” of several stakes that are tied at the top. The resulting “hut” is filled with spruce branches or covered with film on the outside to reduce the snow load and make it more even.
Siberian larch
(Genus “larch”)
The tree is 30-37 meters high and 80-160 cm in diameter. Lives 400-500 years. The trunk is straight, full-wooded, cylindrical, highly cleared of branches. The bark of young trees is thin, in old ones it is thick, deeply fissured, and red at the end. The crown is narrow at a young age, and wide at an older age. The needles are 2.5-5.0 cm long and up to 1 mm wide, arranged singly and spirally. On shortened shoots, the needles are collected in bunches of 25-60 pieces. It blooms in space from 12-15 years. The cones are 1.5-3.0 cm long and 18-35 mm thick. The root system is strong (strongly developed main tap root and deep lateral ones). This breed is significantly demanding of light, frost-resistant, winter-hardy and heat-resistant. Not picky about soil fertility.
Yew
(Genus "yew")
There are few plants that are so often mentioned in legends as the yew (Taxus boccata). There must be something special about this tree, which can live for over 5,000 years, whose wood does not rot for centuries and sinks in water like a stone. At the age of 100 to 150 years, yew trees reach a height of about 10 meters and a diameter of 20 to 25 cm.
Previously, the yew was very common, as evidenced by the name of the Tisza River. For its valuable wood, the yew was heavily cut down in the years 1400-1700. Because of its decorative, hard and rot-resistant wood, furniture, dishes, jewelry, and even cannonballs were made for the castle in Khust. Yew wood was expensive and the local population apparently paid them tribute.
In Greek mythology, according to Pliny and Dioscorides, the yew was considered the tree of death. This is true because almost all parts of the yew, with the exception of the edible red pulp of the fruit, are highly poisonous. The constituent parts of the toxin are used today in medicine in the treatment of certain diseases of the nervous system and tumors.
Douglasia green
(Another name: green pseudohemlock) (Genus “Douglasia”)
A tree up to 125 m high and 5 m in diameter. Lives 500-800 (1500) years. Brought to Russia in 1827. The trunk is straight, columnar, full of wood, cleared of branches by 55-75%, and therefore gives a large yield of clean lumber. The crown is dense, broadly conical or broadly pyramidal, pointed. The branches are irregularly ring-shaped. The needles are perennial (up to 8 years), placed spirally on elongated annual shoots. The age of maturity of Douglas finch reaches 10-20 years. Fruits every year. This breed is moderately sensitive to heat. It does not tolerate severe frosts, heat, late spring frosts, long droughts and dry winds.
