Care of Your Christmas Tree

Cut Trees

If you’re not going to bring your tree in the house immediately, keep it in a cool area with the tree base in a bucket of water, above freezing temperatures.  A garage or basement works well.  When you’re ready to set up your tree, cut an inch from the base and promptly place the tree in water. Do not cut or shave bark from the sides of the trunk. This greatly reduces the tree’s ability to take up water. After you set the tree up inside your house, be sure to check and add water daily.  In a warm house, the tree can “drink” up to a gallon a day.  Watering with hot water is helpful to keep the tree taking in water as long as possible.

Your tree should be set up in an area away from a heat source (heat duct, fireplace, south-facing window) to prevent premature drying of the needles.

To set up a netted tree, set it up in the tree stand with the net still on. After the tree is straight and secure in the stand, remove the net. Using scissors, cut the netting from the top down about halfway. Then cut from the bottom up to remove the netting from the tree. Our netting is bio-degradable.   


Live Trees 
 
Note - although we are no longer selling living Christmas trees, we're leaving our care instructions for those who purchase one elsewhere.

Do not carry the tree by the trunk – you can damage the roots. Carry it by the root ball or roll it on the ground. Once home, the tree should be gradually acclimated before bringing it in the house. Let it sit upright in an unheated garage, barn or basement for at least a couple of days. When you bring the tree indoors, set it up in an area away from any heat source. The cooler the area, the better.

Keep the root ball moist – not wet. A living tree doesn’t need as much water as a cut one does but it shouldn’t dry out. Tip from Ciscoe - Put ice cubes on top of the root ball. They cool it while melting slowly. Put a piece of plastic under the pot or root ball to protect your floors. 

Do not keep a living tree in the house for more than 10 days!  Exposure to the warm temperatures can cause the dormant tree to break buds prematurely. These will die back when you move the tree outside.  This won't kill the tree but will cause you to lose a year of growth and will be unsightly.  When moving the tree outdoors after Christmas, reverse the acclimation process. Keep it in an unheated space again for a couple of days before planting.

If the ground is frozen and the tree can’t be planted, place it in a sheltered area outside and mulch the root ball heavily to keep it from freezing. When planting, dig the hole the depth of the root ball and 1½ to 2 times wider than the diameter. Keep the top of the root ball slightly above ground level –NO DEEPER!  Place the root ball in the hole, remove all twine, and cut away as much of the burlap as you can without disturbing the root ball. Backfill the hole with the dirt removed from the hole. Water well to fill in air holes. Mulch with straw, bark, shavings or whatever. The tree will remain dormant for the rest of the winter and begin growing in the spring.

In the summer, build a well around the base of the tree and water deeply every other week.  Continue this for the first year or two until the tree is well established.

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Bale that boy!

Lochsloy Acres Tree Farm

425-446-0582 
 
5511 State Road 92
Lake Stevens, WA 98258

 
[email protected]

Member of Puget  Sound Christmas Tree  Association

http://www.pscta.org

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