Denny's Soapbox

Some Do’s and Don’ts for Live and Cut Christmas Trees

To see all the ads, you’d think everyone uses an artificial tree for Christmas. Many of these trees are getting very live like in their appearance, but to me and other traditionalist, only a live or cut real tree truly represents this special holiday. For those of you sentimentalists who feel like I do, I want to give you a few tips that will keep your real tree enjoyable through out the Christmas season.

A Living Tree

There are still a few of you who want to use a living tree, one that has it’s roots still attached. This can be a great way to preserve the memories of each Christmas and to watch it grow on into future years. A few do’s and don’ts:

1. The majority of trees offered for this use are large growing pines and spruce. Select a planting site that allows the tree to grow quite large in future years.

2. Your tree should only remain indoors seven to ten days max. Make sure the root clump gets thoroughly watered before bringing indoors.

3. Also before bringing indoors. Place root clump in a water holding container that will allow you to give your tree additional moisture if needed.

4. Acclimate your live tree by placing it in an unheated garage for 10 days before bringing it in to your home and 10 days after before you plant it.

5. Dig your planting hole as soon as you bring it home. Dig your hole as deep as the soil clump and twice as wide. Store your soil in the garage and cover the dug hole to prevent accidents.

6. Go ahead and plant your tree regardless of weather. Be sure to water the tree well when planting.

A Cut Tree

1. Scotch Pine, White Pine, and Frasier Fir hold their needles the best.

2. Check your tree for freshness before buying. Take a few needles and place between your thumb and forefinger. Squeeze the needles and they should bend, not break.

3. Have the tree lot put a fresh cut in the base of your tree and place the tree in a bucket of water with-in an hour and place against your house on the north and shady side.

4. When bringing your tree indoors for decorating, place your tree in a water-holding tree stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water. Check it daily and refill as necessary.

5. When it’s time to take down the tree, you might consider leaving the tree out in the yard for the balance of winter. It makes a wonderful shelter for the birds.

Both cut and live trees should be placed indoors away from any working heat source such as a furnace vent or working fire place. Decorate both types of trees using the small miniature lights which don’t produce any heat when lit.

Other Holiday Trimming tips

Keep evergreen boughs, roping, and wreaths that you use indoors fresher by spraying them with Wilt-Pruf™, an anti-desiccant that will keep your greens fresh. Protect your poinsettia and other holiday flowers from cold air when buying. Make sure a plant sleeve is placed around the plant before leaving the store. Display the plant at home in a room with good daylight and away from a heat source or a door to the outside. All plants would prefer to have the foil removed from the pot when displaying which will allow the water to drain better.

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