Choose
& Cut Your Family Tree -- in a Suburban Nature Retreat
How to Plant and Care for Your Christmas Tree
Now that you have a beautiful live tree,
it is very important that you take good care of it to give it the best chance
of growing into a stately tree in your garden.
First: Do not keep the tree inside your house for more than 12 days. 7 to 10
days is best. Store outside in a shady area protected from the wind. An
unheated garage is an excellent place. Water every three or four days while
outside. Inside keep ball moist - amount of water depends on temperature and
indoor humidity. The cooler, the better.
Second: Dig a hole - the same depth as root ball, but twice as wide, as soon as
you get the tree. Reason is the ground may be frozen when you want to plant
your tree and boy, will that be a job! The dirt removed from the hole should be
piled and covered with a heavy layer of newspapers or other material which will
act as a mulch to prevent freezing.
Third: As soon as the tree is taken from the house, plant it. Burlap and wire
basket should be left on the tree. Fill in loose soil around tree being careful
not to leave air pockets - large clumps of dirt should be broken up. WATER
heavily. Put a layer of mulch 3 to 6 inches deep around tree.
Assuming that your soil
is not actually deficient, do not add anything to the soil when planting. Use
only the natural soil from the hole or natural soil from
elsewhere in the garden. That is, we don't recommend chemicals or artificial
products being added. However, if you actually have poor soil or clay soil,
consult your agricultural cooperative extension office (see below) to confirm
your actual soil conditions. You may want to add natural topsoil from off-site
to improve the quality of your soil. But we find best results with natural
materials, not with artificial products or additives.
Staking of the tree with guy wires may or may not be necessary depending on
where the tree is planted (very exposed to wind or sheltered) and the size of
the tree. After planting, cut the string around the trunk of the tree which
holds the burlap and basket on. If the tree wobbles when the top is gently
pushed back and forth, then staking is advisable. Two guy wires, in line of the
prevailing wind (which is from the north in our area), are all that are needed
and should be attached one half of the way up the tree. Place a piece of old
garden hose or other protection over the wire to prevent cutting into the tree
bark.
Fourth: Enjoy your tree and continue to water through summer. Water once a week
heavily about (10 to 15 gallons). Water slowly so that the water sinks into the
ground and does not run off. Create a small hilled ring (3-4" high) around
the tree at the outside line of the branches. This will help to hold water
inside and will permit you to water more quickly. Fill the area inside the ring
and one is done.
In the second year watering is seldom needed unless there is a severe drought.
Then a heavy watering every two weeks should be ample.
Do not fertilize the first year. Norway Spruce will respond well to fertilizer
(10-10-10) the second year. The other pines, junipers and spruces generally
need no fertilizers, though a small amount will do no harm (10-10-10).
The trees we sell for planting out are quite disease and insect resistant. In
the event you should have a problem, do not hesitate to call either your local
extension agent.
|
Ticonderoga Farms, Inc.
|
Member: |
