Caring For Your Live Christmas Tree

Live Christmas trees need to make a gradual switch from outdoors to indoors. Place your tree in an unheated garage for two days before you bring it into the house.

To minimize needle loss, spray the tree with an antidessicant such as Wilt Pruf or Cloud Cover.

Locate your tree in the coolest part of the room, away from heating ducts.

Place the tree in a large galvanized tub. Lift the tree by the root ball and place it into the tub. Fill around and on top of the ball with mulch.

Water your tree as often as necessary to keep the roots moist, but not soggy.

Miniature lights are the best choice for decorating live Christmas trees. Check light strands for fraying before decorating. For safety, turn the lights off when the tree is unattended.

Dig a planting hole for the tree before the ground freezes, or cover the area where you plan to plant with a thick layer of leaves or mulch to keep it from freezing.

The hole width should be 12"-18" wider than the width of the root ball. The hole depth should be 2"-3" shallower than the height of the root ball.

Backfill with the same soil you removed from the hole mixed, with one part organic matter. Mulch the root spread with 2" of bark mulch.

Water the tree well immediately after planting, and 2-3 times more during the winter.

Remember... place the tree in an unheated garage or on an unheated porch for two days before planting.

Live Christmas trees may stay in the house no longer than 7-10 days!