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How to Plant Live Christmas Trees

How to Plant Live Christmas Trees


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Any evergreen you select can be used as a live Christmas tree that can be planted and enjoyed for many years to come. We suggest selecting a tree you most want to have in your landscape and that will thrive in the location and native soil. It must be properly cared for before and after planting. Learn how to plant live Christmas trees.

Bringing the Tree Home
Place it in an outdoor spot protected from sun and wind, such as the north side of the garage. Cover the roots with a bag of mulch to help prevent them from freezing. Mulching a couple of inches beneath the ball will prevent the tree from freezing to the ground. We also recommend either digging the hole in advance (digging instructions below) or placing a bale of straw or hay over the spot where you want to plant the tree to keep the ground from freezing.

Celebrating with the Tree
Sometime before Christmas, bring the tree to your chosen spot to celebrate with. Place the root ball in a bucket or garden trug and water the tree. Stash the mulch from outside for later use. Ideally, avoid areas indoor near direct heat sources or harsh sunlight. The tree should not be inside for longer than one week.

Planting the Tree
Bring the tree out to your planting spot. A spraying with Wilt-Pruf will keep the harsh winter temperatures from drying out the needles. If you didn't pre-dig the hole, remove the straw bale and scape off the sod. Dig the hole the exact depth of the root ball, no deeper, and two times wider. Plant the tree with the soil you just dug. Mulch with the mulch you stashed. Protecting with a burlap wrap, especially its first season, is another great way to prevent winter desiccation.
Next Spring
In the springtime, don't forget this is a newly planted tree and it's necessary to water it as needed. You can also add three handfuls of Pro-Gro natural fertilizer to the mulched tree ring.
Our Garden Center is happy to help and answer any questions you have. We carry a number of items mentioned above including: evergreens, mulch, bales of straw, rubber trugs, Wilt-Pruf, tools and gloves, Pro-Gro fertilizer, and more.

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