Living Christmas Trees Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-521 -- More Projects »
Long to watch this year's Christmas tree get bigger every year? Simply pick a variety of tree that's right for your climate, take good care of it during the holidays, plant it well and it will grace your garden for decades to come. Gardening by the Yard host Paul James talks about the best varieties for later planting and gives tips on how to take your living tree through the holidays and beyond. The varieties of live trees range from the familiar to the unusual. Container-grown trees have smaller root masses but are generally healthier; although balled and burlapped trees are larger, they are more susceptible to transplant shock and are heavier to move. Before you select a tree, make sure it likes your climate. Balsam firs are magnificent, for example, but they'll do well only in cold climates. Also, know the tree's mature size. An adorable five-foot tree could wind up reaching 60 feet high and 30 feet wide.
Pine. Pines are popular, and the white pine (USDA Zones 3 to 7, possibly to 8) is hard to beat because of its wide suitability and the appealing softness of its fine needles. The Austrian pine (Zones 3b to 7) has a bit coarser texture, but is extremely tolerant of urban conditions, drought and a wide variety of soils. Scotch pine also has a wide following, but so many have been killed by the pine sawyer beetle that many nurseries don't stock it live. Mature size: white pine, 50 to 80 feet; Austrian pine, 50 to 60 feet; Scotch pine, 30 to 60 feet.
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Spruce
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Dwarf Alberta spruce
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Spruce. As with the other giants mentioned here, one fully mature blue spruce can in time dominate half the yard and be difficult to work into a landscaping scheme. If you're looking for a more diminuitive form, try 'Flat Albert' at 15 feet tall, or 'Blue Kiss', 8 feet. On all spruces, the needles are arranged bottlebrush-style around the stem. Although their geographical range is limited (Zones 3 to 7 for most), newer varieties can adapt to many conditions. The dwarf Alberta spruce does well in containers as well as in the ground. In warmer climates, give the Alberta morning sun only; too much sun exposure can brown the needles.Canadian hemlock. This fine-textured evergreen is an excellent choice for Zones 3b to 7. Extremely shade-tolerant, hemlocks prefer moist, well-drained, acid soils. Beautiful as an individual specimen or in groups as a sheared hedge. Mature size: 40 to 70 feet.
Juniper. Conical when young, the Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), looks great when decorated in a rustic setting. If you can find one with plenty of blue-black berries, you won't need to decorate it as much. The poodle-coiffed Hollywood juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka') has a funky look that's not for everybody, says James, but they could make a very unique Christmas tree. Mature height of Eastern redcedar, 40 to 50 feet; Hollywood juniper, 20 to 30 feet.
Holly. Why not pick a tree with the decorations already on it? There's no reason why holly can't be promoted out of wreath duty. The Foster holly, naturally conical and red-berried, makes a festive Christmas tree that will stand out in the home as well as the landscape. There are numerous cultivars among the Fosters: you can even get yellow berries ('Bienville Gold' or 'Longwood Gold'). Another good choice is 'Nellie Stevens'. Mature height: varies widely according to species and cultivar.
Fir. Fir is one of the most popular cut Christmas trees, but as a living tree, it has limitations: the balsam fir is suitable only in Zones 3 to 5(6); the white and Fraser firs, Zones 4 to 7. Mature height: 45 to 75 feet, 30 to 50 feet, and 30 to 40 feet, respectively.
Norfolk Island pine. Not really a pine at all, this South Pacific native (Araucaria heterophylla) is grown as a houseplant in most areas. Give it lots of light--close to a large east-, south-, or west-facing window--and keep the soil moist but not wet.
Helping your tree survive the holidays: Once you know what kind of tree you want, you'll want to ensure that it stays healthy and vigorous through the holidays. To help it make the transition from nursery to home to landscape, following James's tips:
- Buy early. Most nurseries will tag and hold trees until you're ready to bring them home.
- Put the tree in a transition zone. Two weeks before Christmas, put the tree in the garage for about a week to allow for acclimation to an indoor environment. Keep it watered, but don't overdo it.
- Move the tree indoors. A few days before Christmas, move the tree to a spot with filtered light, but well away from drafts and heater vents. Be sure it gets all the water it needs.
- Move the tree back to the garage. A few days after Christmas, put the tree back in the garage. No matter what, don't leave the tree inside the house for more than a week to 10 days.
- Plant the tree outdoors. If the ground freezes in your area, consider digging the planting hole in the fall and covering it with leaves. Otherwise, just dig your hole, add amendments to the soil if necessary, plant the tree and water it well.
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