One of my favorite holiday traditions has always been bringing home a fresh cut Christmas tree. Something about the smell of pine in the air and seeing a few pine needles on the floor really makes me feel at home this time of year. This week I have some tips for caring for live Christmas tree in your Gainesville landscape home this holiday season.
Christmas Tree Tips
First, you’ll want to start with the freshest tree possible and if you are looking to cut your own tree and stay local, you can check out http://www.unicornhillfarm.com/ right here in Gainesville.
- Displaying trees in water in a reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle-loss problems. You’ll want to make sure to place the tree in water as soon as possible. Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.
- Keep trees away from major sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, and direct sunlight).
- Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day. Use low heat lights, such as LED and miniature lights to reduce drying.
- Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.
A final note, living Christmas trees, those that come with the roots still attached, are an environmentally friendly version of the traditional Christmas tree that can then be planted in your Gainesville yard. You can select from a variety of living trees and, fortunately, January is the best time to plant trees in Florida. I don't recommend digging up live trees in your yard as this can cause transplant shock and the tree will likely die. Wild trees are also unlikely to have the classic Christmas tree shape. Many nurseries grow Christmas trees in containers and these trees can be brought inside the house and decorated just like cut real trees or artificial trees. Be sure to keep the soil in the container moist so that the tree keeps growing.