For many families, choosing a tree is one of the most cherished traditions of the holiday season. While many people opt for the standard cut tree from a local lot, or the predictability (and neatness) of an artificial tree, more and more people with an interest in gardening are deciding on a live Christmas tree.

While a live tree certainly is going to be more expensive than the traditional cut one, the advantage is that you can plant the tree in your garden after the holiday season is over. This way, you have invested your money in your landscape and will reap some benefit for many years to come. Start a new family tradition this year by selecting a live tree.

What to look for
When making your selection at the local nursery or landscape supply company, consider buying a tree that has been grown in a container. You will have a much greater chance for survival, since the tree is moved about from the nursery to inside your house and finally to the desired location in your garden.

The price for live trees varies depending on species and size, but you can expect a cost of $100 to $175—about 60 percent to 80 percent more than a cut tree.

When purchasing a balled and burlapped tree, choose a tree with a solid root ball. One of the most important things to remember in handling live trees is that you do not want to move the tree directly into your house from the great outdoors. You need to gradually climatize your tree to the warmer temperatures of the indoor environment. When you bring the tree home from the nursery, store it in a cool garage or on the porch where it is protected and a little warmer than outside. Leave it there for a few days and then move it inside. You will need to do the reverse when it is time to move it out after the holidays. You do not want to go from cold to hot or hot to cold all in one day.

When choosing an indoor location for your tree, be sure it is away from heating vents and fireplaces—the cooler the better. Use cool tree lights, since warm lights can “fool” the tree into thinking it is spring. Now that your tree is located indoors, the main thing it needs is water. You’ve probably heard of several home remedies that suggest you add something to the water, such as aspirin, 7-Up or even bleach! You don’t need to do that. Plain water will do just fine.

The root ball or soil should be kept slightly damp but not flooded. Wrap the root ball of a balled tree in plastic or place in a tub while it is in the house. A drip pan located beneath the container is beneficial and allows you to monitor the trees intake of wa

ter. The tree will draw the water from the pan, so if you see the pan dry at any time be quick to add more. You may even try keeping ice cubes on the base of the tree. It helps “fool” the tree for a little while and keeps the soil cool.

When to plant
Because your tree is in a dormant state, it should be kept indoors for only a short period of time. The shorter the tree stays indoors, the better its chances of survival when planted outdoors. The maximum stay indoors should be seven to 10 days. If the tree is kept indoors for a longer period, the buds may break dormancy. When you go to plant the tree outdoors, the succulent new growth will be killed by cold temperatures. Since the indoor pleasure of your tree will be relatively short, try to make the bringing in of the tree and decorating it the focus of Christmas Eve. You may find that this is a great new family tradition.

After the holidays and after you have sufficiently re-acclimated your tree to the outdoors, make sure you plant it in the right spot. All conifers prefer sun to shade. Remember that your tree may be a cute little 6-footer today, but it will grow up. Do not plant it too close to the house or property line. Your neighbor may not appreciate the tree as much as you do.

Most evergreens will grow a couple of feet a year once they get started. When planting a balled and burlapped tree do not remove the burlap and strapping during the planting process. This keeps the root ball solid and secure. Remove only the top portion of the burlap and any ties around the base of the trunk once the hole has been backfilled. Be sure no burlap is left above ground level. Burlap exposed to the air will act as a wick and draw moisture out of the ground.

If your tree is in a plastic container, carefully tap the bottom of the container and remove before planting. Do not attempt to remove soil from the root system. After planting, place a deep layer of bark or pine straw mulch around the base of the tree being sure to avoid piling mulch next to the trunk.

Keep it growing
Once you have successfully planted your live Christmas tree, it is important to keep it sufficiently watered through the winter as it can quickly become dehydrated. When new growth appears in spring, feed your tree with a timed-release fertilizer specifically for evergreens. Your local nursery or garden center can help you with that choice. If you follow these suggestions, your tree’s chances for survival are very good. You will make the most of your tree, extend the life of your evergreen and enjoy a little bit of the holiday season all year long.