Replant Your Christmas Tree

Did you know that you can purchase a live Christmas tree with the root ball intact and replant it after Christmas, I think that is a great idea and would make a wonderful family tradition, Providing that you have a yard large enough to do so. They can go on living and providing shelter and beautify your landscape for many years to come. They can hold a lot of birdhouses. Some even have pinecones you can make Christmas decorations and wreaths out of.

If you decide to transplant your tree after Christmas it pays to plan ahead. Pick the place where it will be planted and give it plenty of room to grow Because it will be a permanent fixture in your yard, Providing the birds with shelter and nesting area and you with a windbreak and a tree to decorate outside for as many Christmases as you wish. Grab your tools and dig your hole ahead of time to make sure you can transplant it after it has served its purpose inside. Make sure your hole is twice the size of the root ball, Store the dirt in a trash can, tubs or buckets. Put it in your shed or garage so it will not freeze solid and fill the hole with mulch or straw until you are ready to plant your tree.

Choose a tree that has a nice shape , nice coloring with no brown areas and strong branches. Make sure there is a nice sized root ball covered with burlap or some other type of moisture holding material. When you get it home it needs to be placed in a cool shed, garage, or basement, to adjust to the change in temperature before bringing it in to the area it will stay in for Christmas. Put it into a large tub or pot of water. After a few days you are ready to move it in side. If you use a tree stand protect the trunk with rags or Paper padding from the screws that hold it up right. If you use a tub you will need to fill any empty areas with rocks ,moss or any other material that can stay wet. Check twice daily and keep whatever container you use full of water, do not let it dry out. It wouldn’t hurt to lightly mist it with a spray bottle and let it absorb the water before decorating it.

If you intend to use lights choose some that stay cool. Or you may get brown spots from the heat of the bulbs. Place a tree skirt or blanket around the base to help hold the moisture in. Now it’s ready to brighten your Christmas.
Decorate it as desired making sure the ornaments you choose are not heavy enough to break the branches. If you attach the decorations with wire or string do not wrap or tie too tightly. Nothing can beat the aroma of a real tree and it is a beautiful addition to everyone’s Christmas.

After Christmas it needs to go back to the shed, garage, or cool basement for another transmission period again,

After a few days it will be ready to move outside to the chosen spot where hopefully you already have the hole prepared. Remove the hole filler that you filled it with temporarily, cut open the burlap and loosen the soil around the roots and spread them out the best you can placing it in the hole, If you have some compost throw some in and backfill with your pre stored soil making a mound up to the trunk. Water it generously and cover with mulch or even your temporary hole filler to retain moisture and to provide some protection. If you get no precipitation where you live you may want to water it a few times over the winter. You can fertilize it in the spring with a product made for evergreens.

You now have a wonderful living tree to serve as a reminder of that particular Christmas and to use as a outside decorated tree next Christmas if you wish. A nice row of pine trees make a great wind break and can provide housing for many animals and birds during the long cold winters ahead. Make it a family tradition.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
from the birdlady &

All Gone to the Birds