As drooping Christmas trees still line the streets after the holidays awaiting pick up, this is becoming a less common site as increasing number of homes opt for artificial and live Christmas trees, with the latter snagging a great deal more interest in recent, more ecologically conscious times.
One advantage of a live Christmas tree over an artificial one is that it is environmentally friendly, which is also true for the cut Christmas trees. An advantage for you is the firs and pines are quite fragrant. Another advantage is that if you leave the tree in its container for a year or two, you can bring it back indoors again. If you plant it right away, you can enjoy it in your landscaping and even decorate it outdoors with things like cranberry strings for the birds. Some who live in places where they can’t plant trees, enjoy donating to a park, school, church or other place that will be happy to care for it.
While the care of a live Christmas tree will depend in part on where you live, there are some general guidelines. First of all, here are some things to consider when shopping for a live pine or fir Christmas tree:
1.
How healthy is it? Are the needles green right down to their tips — and without artificial enhancement? Is the root ball large (too small could indicate not enough was dug out with the tree). Will the tree grow well in your region? If a container-grown tree, make sure it’s not root bound. It it’s balled-and-burlapped, the root ball should firm, not loose or pancaked.
2.
Transportation. A live tree is heavy because of its root ball, so figure out how you will get it home and into your house. Some nurseries deliver.
3.
Post-holiday plans for the tree? For example, if you plan to plant it this season, but your ground is frozen, you must dig a hole before then. Or you may want to keep it in its container for a year or two.
4.
Where to find one? Nurseries, living Christmas tree sales (some natural food stores have these), “choose and cut” tree farms (where they give you the option of digging up your tree) and mail order.
Once you bring home your live Christmas tree, you’ll need to care for it properly:
1.
Before bringing in your tree from the chilly, perhaps freezing outdoors, condition it to warmer climes by keeping it in the garage, enclose porch or other unheated area for a few days.
2.
Before bringing into your home, check for critters and insect egg masses.
3.
To minimize needle loss while it’s decorating your living room, spray with an antiwilt product, which will help your tree retain moisture.
4.
To further help your tree retain moisture, position in the coolest part of the room, away from heat sources, and go easy on the miniature lights. It’s best if the bulbs don’t come into contact with the tree.
5.
Unless the tree is already in a container, place the tree in a galvanized container that is large enough to accommodate the root ball. Use rocks or brick to stabilize. Fill the empty space around and on the ball with mulch.
6.
Water by pouring cold water into the container or onto the root ball (some place crushed ice on the root ball).
7.
Water as necessary for moisture while not allowing root ball to become soggy. Do not keep your tree indoors any longer than one week. This means planning carefully so you will have it to enjoy on Christmas Day.
8.
Since the tree is dormant this time of year, never add nutrients or fertilizers.
When it’s time to return to your tree to the outdoors, you’ll need to recondition it first. Then will come the planting, unless you are going to keep it in the container
or burlap for a year or two.
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