Dig a hole now for living Christmas tree Nothing makes you want to sing “O Christmas Tree” more than a beautiful living tree trimmed for the holidays. It’s lovely, alive and full of promise for years of enjoyment in your landscape. Make sure everything goes right by planning ahead. Start with arrival date. Your living tree can handle only three to seven days indoors, so this option won't work for the family that decks the halls from Halloween to Super Bowl.
Manage expectations. Your kids may want to hang tinsel and lights as soon as you bring the tree home. But the living tree needs to chill out in an unheated garage or porch a few days before you move it indoors. A quick and drastic change in temperature can harm the tree. Dig your hole by Thanksgiving, because it's likely the ground will be frozen by the end of December. Prepare the tree spot by breaking up large clods and adding peat, humus or fertilizer, then filling in with soil. Cover the hole with six inches of straw for insulation.
Pick out a tub or basin before you bring the tree home. Don’t place the root ball directly in water. Instead, use wetted newspaper to keep the roots damp. For your tree’s indoor spot, pick a location that’s cool and away from a heat register.
Plan ahead for success with a living Christmas tree.
Dig a hole for your tree before the ground freezes.
Selecting the tree is a personal choice. Some people like the short needles and compactness of a Spruce, Fir or Douglas Fir. Others like Pine trees for their longer needles and less uniform shape. Whatever your choice, make sure you consider the mature size of the tree for the location in your landscape. Check out these tips from the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association. Happy Holidays!
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