Dig That Christmas Tree Hole Now

Sustainable Landscaping | Live Christmas Trees

When it comes to sustainable landscaping practices, it is best to be proactive in your approach. With that in mind; many of us celebrate the holiday season by decorating a live evergreen Christmas tree, so you may be better off if you dig your Christmas tree hole now before the ground freezes.

Artificial trees of green plastic, now matter how you look at it, just can’t come close to or replace the fragrant and natural beauty of a Christmas Fraser Fir, White Pine or Blue Spruce. In these times, many of us have opted for an “eco-friendly” live tree in lieu of a cut tree. So, what’s the difference between a fresh Christmas tree and a living tree? Roots, of course!

Many types of conifers can be chosen to grace your home during the holiday season and the after the holidays, become the next landscape addition in your yard. This is the perfect excuse you’ve been looking for to purchase that Concolor Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce or Douglas Fir. Doing so not only commemorates the family holiday event, it provides for wind breaks, can become a screening or a focal point in a bed.

Some Christmas Tree Planting Advice

The root ball itself must remain moist during the duration of its indoor stay. This is vital. To avoid your tree breaking its dormancy cycle, only bring it inside a maximum of two weeks, or about from the 18th of December to shortly after New Years Eve. You can purchase your tree early, just store it in a cold garage or shed. Be careful to be gentle with the ball of the tree and avoid any rough handling thereof.

Now’s the time be be proactive in the yard. Plan ahead and select your planting spot in Mid-November before the ground freezes. Dig a hole of sufficient size, at a minimum one and a half times the size of the ball, break up the dirt and place it in a wheelbarrow and park it in the garage or shed. You can also amend the soil now with some potting soil, but avoid over fertilizing as the tree is dormant. Adding soil will provide nutrients in the spring and promote root growth to a greater degree.

Water the tree thoroughly when you plant it. This will eliminate any air pockets within the hole around the tree and help prevent disease. Mulch the top of the soil approximately 3 inches deep around the tree, avoiding mulching right up against the tree trunk. Leave a small diameter circle of soil adjacent to the trunk. You can check to see if it needs water several times throughout the winter season.