Potted trees can be planted in the ground after the holiday season has ended or can be kept outdoors as a patio plant. Trees that remain in a container and are well cared for can be brought inside for Christmas decorating each year. Learn how to choose a living Christmas tree, how to properly care for a tree in the home and how to plant a live tree after the holidays.
It’s important to consider how many years you plan on using the potted tree as a Christmas tree. If the tree will remain in a container as a patio tree, choose a slow-growing variety, like a blue spruce, which grows no more than eight inches per year. These trees can be brought indoors each year at Christmas time, decorated and placed back outdoors when the festivities have ended.
Faster growing varieties, like the Scotch pine, which grows about one foot per year, make a good choice if the tree will be planted in the ground after the Christmas holidays.
Whether the tree will remain in a container for several years or will be planted in the ground, inspect a living Christmas tree carefully before bringing it home. Be sure to choose a potted Christmas tree that is in good condition. Avoid trees that have yellow or brown needles, shedding needles or other signs of damage. Damaged trees may not survive the stress of moving indoors for the holiday season and back into the cool weather afterwards.
A living Christmas tree should be allowed to slowly adapt to the indoor climate. Plan on storing it in an unheated garage or shed for a week or two before bringing it into the area where it will be on display through the Christmas holiday. Avoid letting the tree become dry. Water it enough to keep the roots moist and mist the branches often.
Once the tree is moved indoors, keep it away from direct sources of heat. Minimize the time that the tree is kept indoors to ensure the long-term health of the tree. A living Christmas tree should remain inside for no more than twenty days.
When it’s time to move the living Christmas tree outdoors, begin by returning the tree to the unheated garage or shed. This hardening-off process will help the tree acclimate to outdoor temperatures.
If the tree will be planted after Christmas is over, it’s a good idea to have the hole prepared ahead of time. Dig the hole before the ground freezes, fill it with mulch and cover with a board to keep it from freezing. Store the soil in a place where it won’t freeze.
When the tree is ready to go into the ground, remove the mulch, place the tree in the hole and fill with the soil. Water thoroughly and mulch with a three-inch layer of hay. Water the tree if the temperature climbs above freezing through the winter months.
Living Christmas trees that will remain in a container can be slowly acclimated to the outdoor light and temperatures over a two-week period. Trees should be kept outdoors in a container only in zones that don’t get a hard frost over the winter months. Trees in colder climates can be kept in a cool, but not freezing, room or shed until the weather is warm enough for the tree to remain outdoors.
Carefully select the healthiest living Christmas tree possible and care for the tree properly. Planting the tree successfully after the Christmas celebration has ended will ensure that the tree will be enjoyed for a lifetime.
Sources:
Hundreds of Can-Do Answers to a Gardener’s Toughest Questions; The editors of Organic Gardening magazine, Rodale Press, 1989.
New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service; Buying a Living Christmas Tree, Guide H-421.
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