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How To Plant A Live Christmas Tree

Buying a live Christmas tree is becoming more and more popular - as well as being used indoors as a Christmas tree they can be planted outdoors as a part of your landscape.

It is important to care for these trees correctly now or many people will find that with spring thaws and warmer weather, their trees brown quickly and die. By purchasing a healthy tree and caring for it properly, you should be able to insure that your tree becomes a useful part of your landscape.

You will have already got your tree but for future years consider these points when you shop for a live Christmas tree:

• Insist on healthy, recently dug or container-grown specimens.
• Be aware of "bargain" trees. These trees may beleftovers from earlier planting seasons and could be in poor shapeby the time the Christmas season arrives.
• Avoid trees with very dry or hard soil (which mayindicate they weren't watered properly).
• Avoid trees with brown or off-color needles and treesexhibiting a large amount of needle drop.
• Branches should be pliable and not snap very easily. Buds for the coming season should be alive.
• Consider digging your own tree if you can find a nurseryselling trees like this. Of course, in this situation, be sure youhave instructions on how to dig a tree properly. It may not be aseasy as you think.

Prior to next years "buying season" we will take a look at the various different types of trees available and consider the best species to buy for decoration and onward planting in your backyard. So visit our "Home & Garden" (http://www.bookworld.us/Home.html)section and enjoy the latest book reviews and more topical articles.

To keep your tree in good condition for eventual planting it is essential that the soil be kept moist. DO NOT OVERWATER! Moist soil does not mean soggy wet.

The sooner after Christmas you can move the tree back outside the better off the tree will be so when you are finished with it indoors move it outside immediately and find a place where the tree can be kept in a place where low temperatures can be maintained. A spot outdoors sheltered from direct sun and winds could be ideal. Avoid storage areas that allow daytime temperatures to become too warm. Wrapping the soil ball or container with plastic may help to retain moisture. This will help keep water loss through the needles to a minimum.

Soil preparation is critical. At this time of year most people's soil is wet (even water-logged), cold or frozen – not the ideal conditions to put your tree into. A little time spent now will really add to the chances of your tree's survival.

First of all clear and cover, with black plastic, the area you in which you intend to plant your tree. The purpose of this is twofold:

• The black plastic will absorb what heat there is from the sun and warm up the soil underneath. This will raise the temperature of the soil by several degrees and create a much more welcoming environment for your tree.
• Secondly the plastic will help keep the rain and snow off the planting area and will help "dry-out" the soil underneath. "Dry-out" is a relative term as at this time of year the soil will remain moist and will not "dry-out" completely.

After a few weeks the planting area should have improved immensely and the tree can be planted. Before planting dig into the soil some compost or well rotted manure but do not over prepare the soil with organic matter. If the soil is fertile and well-drained, additions should not be needed.

Be sure that when digging the planting hole is wider than the soil ball of the tree and be sure it is the correct depth so that the tree can be planted at the same depth it was grown at the nursery or in the pot.

After putting the tree in the hole, remove any plastic and burlap. If the tree was container-grown, be sure to loosen outside roots and prune broken roots. Also redirect roots, which wrap around the soil mix so they will grow out away from the tree.

After filling the hole with soil add a small stake. This should be driven into the ground at 45 degrees to the ground so that the head of the stake comes back and crosses the trunk of the tree approximately 18" from the ground (this is recommended for a 6' tree). Staking in this way prevents the root ball of the tree from being rocked and loosened but allows the head of the tree to move with the wind – this encourages strong trunk growth.

Once you have done this firm the soil around the tree, water and then replace the black plastic. Stab this a few times to create some drainage holes and create a soil ridge, three to four inches around the outside of the plastic – this bowl will help ensure that the tree is properly watered. Add two to three inches of bark mulch and your tree will be set.

Remove the plastic in spring and replace the mulch. If you are in a "dry" area you may want to consider keeping the bowl effect around the tree for the first season as this will help trap any water and allow it to soak down to the roots where it's needed. With proper care, your live Christmas tree should be a valuable addition to your landscape.

By Mark Everest

This article has been written by Mark Everest for www.bookworld.us. BookWorld is your gateway to the world of books, providing Book Reviews, News, Information and true international book search and shop facilities. We also produce several special interest sections and newsletters with topical articles, relevant book reviews and much more - visit
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