Each year American families purchase more than 30 million cut Christmas trees and an even greater number of fake plastic ones to serve for a couple of weeks as the centerpiece of their holiday home decoration. But a more environmentally friendly solution would be to forego the cut or fake tree and substitute instead a live tree. Advertising from many involved with the selling of Christmas trees may refer to cut trees as live. Yes they were once live, unlike the plastic “trees” but without their roots they will soon be dead. Live Christmas trees with their root balls or pots can be planted after the holidays and live for many decades. Cut trees are nowadays mostly grown in special tree farms and generally consume large quantities of chemical fertilizers and pesticide. A typical 6 ft. tall evergreen tree has been growing about six years before being cut. Usually the roots are discarded, the ground tilled, and new tiny saplings planted, thus starting the process all over again. Crop rotation is seldom practiced. Often, the nurseries and tree farms supplying the commercial cut Christmas tree market are now also growing a few trees for the much smaller live tree market as well. Perhaps this is the beginning of a trend.
Christmas trees are grown in all of the 50 states, Generally the trees most available in a particular state were grown either in that state or a nearby one. In the northwest corner several varieties of fir, spruce, and pine are the most common. Those species commonly found as cut trees, being local, are generally suitable choices also as live trees. For live trees there are more choices available (although perhaps not during the Christmas rush) since ornamental evergreen trees in local nursery yards are often grown elsewhere, farther away.
A major reason for choosing a live tree is that you intend to keep it and transplant it into your garden. It makes sense to choose a suitable place beforehand and to choose a tree that is appropriate for that location. This means considering the soil type, the ground moisture, and the available sunlight among other factors as well as the anticipated growth of rhe tree and the aesthetics of its placement. Nowadays many smaller nurseries are carrying live evergreens suitable for use as interior Christmas trees. While live trees are more expensive; they are permanent. Few of us can afford live Christmas trees the size of cut trees that we might have considered. But fitting a 6-7 ft. tree nicely into a room can sometimes be difficult. However, a small tree half that size growing in a pot (add another foot) and perched on a stool (add another foot and a half) can have real presence in all but large spaces. Even smaller live trees can perform nicely where a large tree filling much of the living room is not possible if not placed in a location where it appears miniscule. It might work well on a coffee or dining table where it could be the center of attraction.
Live trees are sold either “balled and burlapped” or in pots. Potted is easier to water and care for until it is planted. A live Christmas tree requires some care if it is to survive. When you get it home put it in a transitional space such as a garage or, if outdoors, a protected spot and leave it there until a few days before Christmas. In the house with its much warmer temperatures keep it inside no longer than 10 days. Be sure the tree is well watered from the time it gets home but be careful not to overwater.
Keep it in a saucer so that any excess water can drain off and not drown the tree. It is wise to treat the live tree more gently than you might with a cut tree. Holiday decorations are fine but don’t overload it, smothering the tree or making the branches work too hard to support them.
It is best to have selected a planting site and dug a generous hole beforehand while the ground is still soft and to keep the dug soil in the garage until planting time. After a few days back in the transitional space would be the best time to plant but putting off the panting until spring usually works fine. Again keep the tree watered as needed (of course if the ground stays frozen watering should not be necessary). Even if you can’t find a place on your property to plant the tree you are likely to have a friend or neighbor who can and would be pleased to have it. For those who cannot bear to part with the tree after the holidays and would like to keep it indoors as a houseplant there is an evergreen tree for this situation: the Norfolk Island Pine.
Architect and landscape designer Mac Gordon lives in Lakeville.
