What is the difference between spruce and pine

You need to know the difference between spruce and pine in order to choose the right plant for your summer cottage. The difference between trees concerns not only appearance, but also important properties.

Similarities between pine and spruce

Both conifers belong to the Pine family. They have noticeable external differences, but there are also certain similarities between the trees:

1. Dimensions. Both crops in nature extend up to 20-50 m or more above the ground.
2. Presence of needles. On the shoots of pine and spruce, instead of leaves, there are green, bluish or yellowish needles of flattened or tetrahedral shape.
3. Presence of cones. At the beginning of the season, both plants form strobili, which over time become denser and woodier. In autumn, dark brown or reddish cones are formed, with seeds hidden between the scales.
4. Lifespan.In nature and in cultivated cultivation, conifers can survive up to 250-300 years or more.

Both breeds are distinguished by their endurance and unpretentiousness, and are found in regions with harsh climates.

The bark, resin and needles of pine and spruce trees contain many substances beneficial to human health.

How to distinguish spruce from pine

Although there are certain similarities between the plants, the differences are also very noticeable. To determine what genus a tree belongs to, you need to take a closer look at several points.

Sizes of pine and spruce

You can distinguish between spruce and pine by size. The first tree is usually smaller in height than the second. At the same time, the crown diameter of pine is about 1.5 m, and that of spruce is 2-4 m.

Cultures have an important difference regarding the location of branches. The side shoots of spruce trees begin to grow almost from the ground itself. The pine lower branches are located quite high, approximately in the middle of the trunk.

Height of pine and spruce

Pine trees of different types usually reach 25-50 m in height. The differences in spruce growth are not the most significant. The crop rises to approximately 20-30 m above the ground.

Crown shape

The shape of coniferous trees depends on the characteristics of specific varieties. But usually spruce trees have a conical or wide pyramidal crown. As for pine, its branches do not differ significantly in length. Therefore, the crown width remains approximately the same along its entire length.

Color and aroma

Most species and varieties of both plants have rich green needles. But pine trees usually have slightly lighter needles. Spruce wood when cut is white and yellow.The pine cut has a yellowish tint or red-brown if the trunk is old.

Both cultures have a rich, pleasant aroma. The volatile substances pinene are responsible for the smell. The spruce aroma is richly coniferous and is strongly associated with the New Year, the festive table and a snow-covered forest. The difference between the pine scent is that it is more resinous, it is warm and brings back memories of sunny summer days.

Comparison of spruce and pine cones

The difference between spruce and pine cones is that in the first conifer they are elongated, with oval, loosely fitting scales. The length is on average 12-15 cm. Pine cones are denser, cone-shaped, short - only up to 6 cm. The scales have a triangular shape.

What is the difference between pine needles and spruce needles?

The needles of spruce and pine have their own differences. The needles of the first plant are small, on average up to 2 cm in length, quite sharp and prickly. On the shoots they are located in a solitary order, although they grow very densely.

Pine needles are elongated, up to 4 cm, soft to the touch. They grow in small bunches of a pair of needles.

Comparison of the root systems of spruce and pine

There are differences in the root systems of pine and spruce. The first tree has a powerful and strong underground core that goes deep into the ground.

The difference between Christmas trees is that their root system actively develops vertically downward only for the first 10-15 years. After this, the rod dies and is replaced by numerous superficial processes.

The difference between pine is that it is much less likely than spruce to suffer from strong winds

Life expectancy of pine and spruce

The difference between spruce and pine in life expectancy is insignificant, but still present.The first conifers are capable of developing up to 400 years in favorable conditions. In contrast, pine trees typically live for about 300 years.

Places of growth

When making comparisons, it is necessary to consider not only the appearance of pine and spruce, but also the areas of their natural growth. Both crops are found in temperate climates, are highly hardy and easily take root in cold and wet regions. Conifers grow everywhere in Russia, Canada and the USA. You can also meet them in Mongolia, China and a number of other Asian countries.

Despite this, the difference between pine is its higher resistance to cold. Spruce is heat-loving in comparison. This is especially easy to notice in southern Europe and Central Asia, where pine forests are generally less common than in the taiga and northern regions.

Which grows faster: spruce or pine?

When trying to understand whether spruce or pine is taller, it is also necessary to pay attention to the growth rate of conifers. The difference between the first tree is that it develops very slowly during the first ten years and retains a thin, smooth bark for a long time.

Pine at a young age can grow up to 50 cm per year. This speed is considered quite high. If you compare the trunk and branches of spruce and pine, the difference will be in the texture of the bark. The second tree has a more layered and thick trunk covering.

Features of cultivation

Before planting coniferous crops on the site, you must carefully study the recommendations for growing each of them.Particular attention should be paid to several nuances:

1. The soil. Pine trees are particularly unpretentious, grow on dry and rocky soil, and take root in highly humid areas. The difference between spruce is that it reacts to swampiness much worse, often gets sick and dies if there is insufficient drainage.
2. Lighting requirements. Most spruce varieties grow well in the sun, but also develop well in shaded areas. In contrast, pine is more capricious - it needs a lot of light. In the shade, the tree withers and stops growing.
3. Landing scheme. Spruce trees quietly develop in close proximity to each other and, given minimal free space, do not compete for moisture and nutrients. They can be planted in fairly dense rows to form alleys and hedges. The difference between pine trees is that it is better to place them individually at a great distance from each other. When planted close together, trees develop worse because they lack sun and fresh air.

When growing conifers, it is necessary to take into account that decorative spruce trees require regular formation. Pine trees usually do not need pruning; it is enough to carry out sanitary pruning from time to time.

Pine and spruce trees have approximately the same resistance to fungi and infections

The healing properties of spruce and pine needles

Coniferous crops are valued not only for their attractive appearance, but also for their numerous beneficial properties. The needles of both trees contain a large amount of phytoncides, antioxidants, vitamins and organic acids. In terms of medicinal value, there are no serious differences between cultures.

Traditional medicine recommends preparing healthy decoctions, infusions and alcohol extracts based on pine and spruce needles. When used correctly, medications:

• strengthen the immune system and make the body more resistant to viruses and infections;
• accelerate tissue restoration, promote healing of wounds and ulcers;
• have bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects;
• promote rapid recovery from influenza and ARVI;
• reduce temperature during fever, relieve aches in muscles and joints;
• improve the condition of the respiratory system, promote expectoration when coughing;
• disinfect the oral cavity and help fight sore throat and dental ailments;
• relieve sore throat;
• eliminate bad breath;
• have a mild analgesic effect;
• promote the removal of toxins and waste from the body;
• relieves well-being in case of joint diseases, sprains and severe bruises.

Needles are added to healing baths, which not only have a beneficial effect on the skin, but also improve the condition of the nervous system. Spruce and pine are often used in inhalations for coughs and colds. Infusions and decoctions can be used for douching for inflammatory and fungal diseases of the genitourinary area.

Coniferous infusions and teas have a beneficial effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels. You can use home remedies to normalize blood pressure, with arrhythmia and tachycardia, and with a tendency to chronic migraines.

Comparative characteristics of spruce and pine: table

The comparison table between spruce and pine allows you to see the differences between the crops with maximum clarity. It makes sense to evaluate the basic parameters of both plants.

What is more expensive: pine or spruce

The differences between pine and spruce wood concern the cost of each material. In general, both coniferous species are not considered elite; products made from them belong to the budget category. But spruce wood costs a little more than pine. This is due to several of its differences:

1. Prevalence. In Russia, pine is found a little more often than spruce. Therefore, the material remains more affordable.
2. Difficulty of processing. Spruce wood is more knotty. Harvesting the barrels is a little more difficult and requires special processing before transportation, which affects the cost.
3. Texture. One of the striking differences of pine is the noticeable pattern on the cut. Spruce does not have such a feature. The wood is uniform, light, and the finished products do not change shade over time.

Although spruce is superior to pine in a number of ways, the latter has a more even trunk.

The positive differences of pine wood include not only a pleasant, but also a healthy resinous aroma

Which is heavier: spruce or pine?

To determine which wood is heavier, you need to understand whether spruce or pine is stronger. The latter has a higher density - about 500 kg per 1 m³. For spruce, the figure for a similar volume is 400 kg.

Due to its high density, pine has greater mass and is particularly durable. At the same time, soft and light spruce retains heat better.

Which wood is better: spruce or pine

Coniferous wood is often used in construction and decoration. Although spruce is valued higher, pine, with its positive differences, is more versatile and enjoys maximum popularity. It has a straight and even trunk and is easy to process. Due to the characteristics of the chemical composition, the material has an important difference - it is highly resistant to rotting and fungus. Pine boards, even without special impregnation, retain their original structure for a long time and release beneficial phytoncides into the surrounding space.

The material is widely used in the manufacture of stairs and railings, doorways and window frames, wall and roof frames. Thin boards are used in both internal and external decoration of facades.

Whether pine or spruce timber is better is a controversial issue. Both trees are used in construction and decoration. But thick timber with a large diameter is often made from spruce. Long and thin wooden elements are usually made from pine. Spruce is more flexible, therefore it is used in furniture production, as well as in the manufacture of skis and sleigh runners.

Another area of ​​use of the material is the chemical industry.Paper and cardboard, cellulose and turpentine are produced from spruce wood and its waste. Pine is used much less frequently for such purposes.

What is better to plant: pine or spruce?

After studying the photos and the differences between pine and spruce, it remains to decide what is best to plant next to a country house. It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question. It is necessary to take into account not only the differences of a particular summer cottage, but also your own preferences, as well as the tasks that need to be solved when creating a landscape:

1. Pine trees are well suited for large spaces. Tall trees emphasize space; if there is free space, they can be easily planted at a decent distance from each other. For a small garden it is better to choose spruce. The culture is represented by numerous dwarf varieties, does not require much space, and tolerates dense planting.
2. The pine has a sparse crown that allows the sun to pass through well. If you want to retain maximum light on your site or create light openwork shading, it is better to choose this particular crop.
3. Spruce, with its structural differences, is well suited for forming hedges. It not only covers the area from prying eyes, but also forms a natural prickly barrier for people and animals.
4. You can plant flowers, small shrubs and berry crops in the tree trunk of a pine tree - they will be able to receive enough light. It is better not to place other plants in the immediate vicinity of a tall spruce. At the same time, dwarf varieties of the crop are widely used to decorate rockeries and flower beds. If the spruce is not tall, then it will not block the light of neighboring plants.

Pine has lower endurance and requires careful care.Spruce trees are hardier, but cultivated varieties need regular pruning to maintain their decorative appearance.

It is better to plant both spruce and pine at some distance from the facade of the house so that the roots of the plants can develop freely

Conclusion

The difference between spruce and pine lies not only in external features. Cultures have different requirements for conditions and care. When choosing a tree for your summer cottage, you need to carefully study the characteristics and features of both plants.

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