A living Christmas tree is a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas holiday and then cherish the memory of those special times throughout the year.
Before planting a living Christmas tree, however, some preparations and precautions will greatly increase chances of tree survival.
First, be sure you have a suitable site for planting the tree. Heavy clay soils are not ideal for planting most evergreen trees because they will not tolerate wet feet and it may be necessary to create a berm or mound of topsoil to assure good drainage.
It is also important to have enough space for the tree to grow. Pines or spruces should be planted no closer than 25 feet from other trees, unless they are planted in a row as a windbreak.
Full sun will help a good tree shape as it matures. Good air circulation will help reduce the incidence of needle diseases and blights.
Some of the best Christmas tree species for planting are the Norway spruce, white pine, white fir and Black Hills spruce. Most nurseries will have these either as container grown trees (which are easier to move around) or balled and burlapped trees.
When first bringing a tree home from the nursery, place it an area outside that is shady and protected from extreme cold.
Bring the tree inside two or three days before Christmas to enjoy, but move it back outside within seven days. Make sure to water the tree while it is indoors. Warm, low humidity environment in the house causes excessive moisture loss from the foliage and the soil ball.
It is usually best to to dig a hole for the tree to be planted prior to bringing it into the house. The hole should be about 2-3 times the diameter of the soil ball, but no deeper. Cover the excavated soil with a tarp to keep it from being too wet or frozen when planting the tree after Christmas.
After Christmas, plant the tree immediately if the weather permits. If not, be certain to place the tree in an unheated garage and do not allow the tree root ball to dry out.
Once you have it in the ground, protect the root system from frost heaving by mulching the tree with a thick layer of mulch.
Environmentally Correct?
Yes!
You can breathe easier knowing Christmas trees are being grown. Christmas trees provide the daily oxygen requirements for millions of people.
And if better breathing is not enough, people can rest easier knowing that real trees are a renewable resource. Approximately 34 million trees are sold every year, and more than enough seedlings are planted to replace them. A million acres in the U.S. are in Christmas tree production.
Christmas-tree farms benefit the environment in a number of important and diverse ways: reducing soil erosion, creating habitat for wildlife, sequestering carbon, etc.
When a Christmas-tree seedling is planted on a farm, it usually is already three or four years old. Depending upon the species, it may take another seven to 10 years to produce a marketable tree.
Some people contend that producing real trees doesn't require burning fossil fuels, as do artificial trees, but it is not that simple. The environmental impact of producing Christmas trees or any other agricultural commodity needs to be considered in the context of overall benefits and costs.
For example, fossil fuels are consumed by equipment to produce trees on farms, but these same trees also sequester carbon over their lifespan.
After the tree is used, consider alternative disposal methods. Many communities have recycling programs — some offering curbside pickup — and will convert the tree into mulch. Used trees also make great fish habitats when placed in farm ponds or lakes.
Bringing in a Rooted Christmas Tree
There are a number of things to consider when bringing a rooted Christmas tree indoors. Rooted trees can stay inside for only a brief period, no more than seven to 10 days. Longer periods indoors can stress the tree due to the interior environment: warm temperatures, low light levels and low humidity.
Before you buy a tree to use indoors over the holidays, make sure it will fit in your landscape. Most evergreens that are used as Christmas trees will eventually reach mature heights of 40 to 60 feet. Select a species that is suited to your climate zone. The tree will be inside for a very short time compared to the length of time it will live in your landscape.
Some evergreens that will thrive in a temperate climate include the giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata), Virginia pine, eastern redcedar and other junipers, and varieties of Arizona cypress such as 'Clemson Greenspire' and 'Carolina Sapphire.' Some alternative choices include the Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), deodar cedar, Atlas cedar and Hinoki false cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). White pine, eastern hemlock and spruces will also grow if provided with some shade during hot summers.
Living trees can be very heavy. Container-grown trees are usually lighter and easier to handle than balled-and-burlapped trees.
By the time you prepare to move the tree outdoors, it will be even heavier, since it is necessary to constantly keep the roots moist. Be sure you can move this weight without damaging either the tree or yourself. Never carry a tree by grabbing the stems or main trunks — the weight of the tree can actually cause the root plate to crack and the tree will die. Only carry trees by lifting the root ball or container.
When bringing the tree indoors, place it in as cool of a location as possible, but make sure it receives as much natural light as possible. Keep it away from heating vents, fireplaces and other heat sources. Decorate it with a limited number of miniature tree lights that can further dehydrate the tree.
Place the root ball or container in a water-holding tub. Fill the bottom two inches of the tub with gravel and place the root ball or container on the gravel. This will keep the tree from sitting directly in water. Keep the root ball constantly and evenly moist but not flooded. A handy technique for watering trees while indoors is to place crushed ice over the top of the root ball.
Plant your tree as soon as possible after Christmas is over. Do not wait until spring. If the work of bringing a live tree in and out of the house seems excessive, consider planting the tree directly outside and decorating it there. This can become an enjoyable occasion that is less stressful on both you and the tree.
If you wait until after the holidays, you might find some deep discounts on trees at your local garden center.
Select a planting site that has well-drained soil, full sun and is appropriate for the tree's size once fully grown. Plant the tree in a hole that is the same depth, but at least twice, preferably three times, as wide as the root ball.
Be sure not to plant the tree too deeply — the root flare at the base of the stem should be slightly above ground level. Remove burlap and wire baskets completely, as they can cause root girdling. Remove containers from container-grown trees, and cut and loosen any encircling roots.
Fill the hole around the freshly set tree with the loosened, native soil left from the planting hole. Do not add any topsoil amendments or compost. Backfill around the root ball in stages by gently firming in each layer of soil.
Water the area well to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch on top of the root ball. It is not necessary to add fertilizer until after the first growing season.
