Keeping Holiday Greens Green

I may be too late with this for many of you but, hoping I am not, here are some tips for making the most of your cut or fresh Christmas tree and holiday greens.

When selecting a fresh-cut tree, make sure that:

• The tree is fresh and the needles are not falling off,
• The tree trunk is straight,
• The thickness of the trunk will match your tree stand,
• You ask to have at least 1 to 2 inches cut off the bottom of the trunk of the tree unless you plan on making the cut yourself at home.

When you get home:

• Cut 1 to 2 inches off the bottom of the trunk if this hasn’t already been done.
• Immediately place the tree into a bucket of water or directly into a tree stand filled with water.
• Place a plastic tree disposal bag beneath your tree stand to protect from water leaks and to speed clean-up after the holidays.  The plastic can be hidden with a tree skirt.
• If the tree is tied, cut the ties after setting the tree in the stand.
• Wait 4 to 5 hours before decorating the tree to allow the branches to settle down.

To prolong the life of a fresh-cut tree:

• Keep your tree watered, checking at least twice a day.  When you first put the tree in the stand you may need to check every few hours.
• Add “Prolong” or a similar product or aspirin to the water to help the tree take up water.
• Position your tree away from heat sources and keep the room temperature no warmer than 70 degrees.
• After 3 or 4 days, the cut base starts to heal over and the tree takes up less water. Making an upside down “V” incision in the bark near the bottom of the tree below the normal water line will help the tree continue to take up water.

A lot of people prefer to buy a live balled-and-burlapped tree.  This approach takes some advance planning:

• Dig the planting hole as soon as possible, twice as wide as the root ball and as deep as the root ball.
• Store the excavated soil in a garage where it won’t freeze and mound the hole with leaves or hay to prevent freezing.

When indoors, your living tree should be:

• In an unheated or cool room, away from heat sources (fireplace, radiator, or heat vent) and sunlight.
• Watered daily with warm water.
• Do not keep your living tree in a heated room for more than 6 days. Prolonged warmth will force new growth that may freeze and be damaged when you move the tree outdoors.

After the Holidays:

• If the temperature will be 40 degrees or above, plant your tree in the pre-dug hole, using the reserved soil, and water thoroughly.
• If temperatures will be colder for an extended period, store the tree for 2 to 3 days in your garage to let it “cool off”.  Water it at least once.  Then move it to an unheated protected location – detached garage, shed, screened porch, beneath a deck, or next to the east side of your house – and cover the root ball with bark mulch, straw, or leaves to a depth of 18″ on all sides.  Plant in the spring.
• You may apply an anti-desiccant spray to keep needles from losing valuable moisture.
• Next spring, summer and fall water your tree deeply once a week.

Fresh holiday greens, those luscious swags and wreaths and garlands, all benefit from:

• Being kept in a cool room,
• Being kept away from heat sources,
• Being kept away from direct sun if possible,
• And being sprayed with an antidesiccant/antitranspirant spray (rather like “Chap-Stick” for plants) to reduce moisture loss, whether they’re displayed inside or out.

 

For me there are few scents as evocative as balsam fir.  Walking into the room where our tree stands during the holidays reminds me of many, many Christmases — when family smiles and the promise of presents were so exciting, when that promise glowed in my own sons’ eyes, and even now when those memories let me believe peace and good will are promises that can be made good.
Happy holidays!