It has the hardest "coniferous wood." It grows in mixed forests, in the Alps and also in the Carpathians. It also grows in our Tatras, at an altitude of about 1300m above sea level. It grows to a height of 50 metres and the diameter of the trunk is around one metre. It is the only one of our conifers that falls in autumn.
Red spruce is known for its rarity and lower distribution. In Bohemia, it is nicknamed "larch" because it quickly turns blue and takes on a greyish patina. However, wood lovers appreciate this characteristic and do not consider it a disadvantage, quite the contrary. Red spruce is popularly used for patios and exterior cladding, precisely because of the high resin content of its wood. It is resistant to weathering and rot, making it a popular material for outdoor use. Its reddish-brown hue is due to the resin channels found in the heartwood. However, the wood itself is rather light.
The texture of the wood is mostly striped, and the wood has an interesting matt sheen. The leaf rings are easily visible because of the marked differences between the summer and spring woods. The knottiness is relatively low in this case. The durability of impregnated red spruce wood is incomparably higher than that of wood without impregnation. If the timber is placed under a roof, its lifetime is estimated to be about 75 years. However, if you do not protect and impregnate it, the lifetime can only be estimated at 7 to 10 years. The wood is soft and flexible, strong and bears the load well. It is easy to dry, twists and dries out little. The main advantages of larch wood are therefore its high hardness, long life, resistance to water and moisture and, above all, its resistance to alternating wet and dry conditions. The purchase price is higher than that of conventional spruce.
Did you know that spruce is also a medicine? From the end of March until about mid-May is a good time to harvest the young, soft, light green shoots from the ends of the branches of conifers, especially spruce, which contain large amounts of vitamin C. At home, rinse the collected shoots under running water and leave them to drain. Put them by the handful into a large glass bottle (4 to 5 litres) in a layer of about 5 cm and sprinkle with sugar. It is recommended to pile lemon slices (preferably organic quality) on top, which serves as a preservative. Repeat the layers until the bottle is full. Press gently, cover the bottle with cellophane and place it in a window where the sun shines the most. Leave to stand for 2 to 3 weeks until the sugar has melted and a thick juice has formed. Strain this through a cloth or curtain and pour into smaller bottles. Then just store in a cool place. Use the syrup in winter as a prevention and treatment for coughs and colds, 1 to 2 tablespoons a day in the morning on its own or add to tea or other beverages. It dissolves mucus, thus relaxing the airways and making it easier to cough up. The syrup has a very pleasant taste and is palatable even to children.
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