Choosing to decorate a live Christmas tree will benefit both the environment and your landscape if you take steps to ensure your tree has a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year thereafter.
Planting a live Christmas tree not only provides habitat for birds and wildlife, it also replenishes the air with oxygen, increases soil stability, and generally makes your landscape more beautiful. The Leesburg Urban Forester suggests homeowners take the following steps to give live Christmas trees the best opportunity to thrive – before and after the holiday season:
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Think before you dig. Most species used for Christmas trees (pine, spruce, and fir) grow to be more than 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Make sure you have enough space allotted for a fully-grown tree.
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Dig before it freezes. Then fill the hole with straw and cover it with safety boards until planting time. The soil itself should be removed from the hole and stored in an area (a garage, for example) where it will not freeze.
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Choose a moist soil ball. Trees with frozen soil balls are more prone to die than those housed in moist and unfrozen soil.
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Garage your tree. Let your tree gradually acclimate to temperature changes. Spending a day or two in the garage before being brought indoors will reduce tree stress associated with rapid and drastic climate changes.
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Limit indoor exposure. Five to seven days inside is enough for any live Christmas tree – the less time spent in your home, the better the tree’s chance of survival.
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Garage your tree again. When family celebrations end, repeat this brief storage period before planting the tree in its pre-dug hole.
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Plant and water. Remove any burlap from the soil ball, place the tree in its designated spot, and fill the remaining hole with soil removed from the hole earlier. Water the tree thoroughly to sustain it through the winter.
