Living trees that please
This month, many people try to decide whether to pick an artificial Christmas tree, a cut tree or a living tree. If you choose the latter, keep these tips in mind.
To improve its chances of survival in the landscape, select a species of tree that is adapted to your area. The N.C. Cooperative Extension offers this advice:
- Fraser fir is recommended only for elevations above 4,500 feet.
- Best white pine growth in North Carolina takes place in areas of 1,200 to 3,000 feet in elevation on cooler, north-facing slopes, in coves, and along stream bottoms. White pine has a limited life expectancy if planted in the lower Piedmont and coastal plain, especially in clay soils.
- Leyland cypress, Virginia pine and eastern red cedar are all suitable for the Piedmont and coastal plain. They are adapted to a wide variety of sites and tolerate warmer climates. However, they require more pruning than the “mountain” species to retain their Christmas tree appearance.
For information about other species, visit www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/forest/xmas/ctn_028.html.
When choosing a planting site, learn your tree’s mature height to be sure it will have plenty of room to grow. Use Christmas trees in hedges or as specimen plants away from the house.
Living trees are usually sold balled and burlapped. Do not let the root ball dry out, whether indoors or outdoors. To ensure adequate moisture retention, place the tree in a tub. Keep the roots evenly moist but not saturated. Display the tree away from heating ducts or heaters, ideally in a room with a temperature of 70? F or cooler. It’s a good idea to use a commercially formulated anti-desiccant or anti-transpirant to protect needles and reduce stress. Try to keep the tree indoors for no more than one week.
Before planting the tree, give it a few days to acclimate to being outdoors again. You might want to prepare the planting hole in advance to make planting as quick a chore as possible. If you bought a potted tree, loosen or pry apart roots before placing it in the planting hole.