With only two days until Christmas, most people who celebrate the holiday already have their trees, either artificial or real, purchased and decorated by this time. But if you've ever thought of purchasing a living tree that can later be used as a landscape plant, don't let our cold winters quell that idea.
The push toward recycling, composting and organic living in order to leave a more sustainable earth for our children and grandchildren is beginning to reach more and more households, and with that comes the idea of purchasing a balled and burlaped, or potted, conifer to use as a Christmas tree and then plant outside.
While the idea is a great one, the problem with this in our northern climate is the planting, but there are ways to get around this. The solution is to be prepared, and by that I mean dig the planting hole in late fall before the ground freezes, keep mulch and backfill soil handy in buckets or containers. I've never done this, but most gardeners I've talked to say they've had good success with this method. Be sure the hole is large enough to accommodate the tree's roots, at least three feet in diameter.
According to those gardeners, after digging the hole, fill it with mulch. This will keep the soil in the hole warmer than the surrounding area. Once you purchase a potted or balled tree, keep it in a garage for a few days before bringing it inside to help acclimate it to the warmer inside temperatures. It shouldn't be inside for more than a week to 10 days, so don't expect to purchase a container tree right after Thanksgiving and keep it inside until after the New Year. The length of time it spends indoors should be as brief as possible. You can put ice cubes on top of the container to keep the soil around the tree's roots cool while it is indoors. As the ice melts, it also will help keep the soil moist.
When Christmas is over, take the tree back out to the garage for a while before planting it to give it time to get used to the cooler temperatures.
If we're fortunate enough to have a few mild days in January, commonly called the ''January thaw,'' this would be the best time to plant your living Christmas tree. To do this, remove the burlap and any wiring or twine that is confining the roots. If your tree is in a pot, wait until you are ready to plant it before removing it from the container.
Remove the mulch from the planting hole and place the tree in the hole. Spread out the roots, or if tightly packed in a container, loosen the roots as much as possible. If the roots have grown in a circular manner, straighten them as much as possible so they will grow in different directions. Roots that are left growing in a circle will continue to grow this way and can girdle the tree as it gets larger cutting off its water and nutrient supply.
Backfill the hole around the roots, watering as you go and leave a small trench around the planting hole to hold more water throughout the year. Mulch heavily, but don't mound the mulch up the trunk of the tree. Water the tree at least once a week the first year after planting.
It's best to protect your tree from wind damage by screening it with plastic or fabric on a sturdy wooden frame. Frames can easily be constructed with wooden pallets. Wind damage is the most common cause of conifer loss over the winter, even with established trees.
I'm a fan of conifers in the landscape and in my opinion, the concolor fir is the best tree to use as a living Christmas tree and in the home landscape. Abies concolor is also called white fir. According to the American Conifer Society, this species of tree has a symmetrical growth habit when young and the needles are blue-green and long. The branches are firm and tend to hold ornaments well. Not only that, but the scent of the tree is pleasant and some say it smells like oranges.