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White Pine
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How To Care For and Plant
a Living Christmas Tree
Your live tree will come to you either with its roots wrapped in
burlap or in a biodegradable container or pot. To help you care
for your tree during the holidays and then plant it on your property
successfully when the holidays are over, Southern States presents
the following helpful information.
When you go to pick out your tree, ask the Nursery Manager at your
local Southern States dealer which species is right for the area
in which you intend to plant your tree. Consider the full grown
size of the tree in relation to the amount of space at the location
you have for it.
Once you get it home, store your tree on a porch or in the garage.
The area should be unheated yet sheltered from wind and sun. Never
allow a living Christmas tree to be exposed to freezing temperatures.
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Norway Spruce
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Provide adequate water for your new tree by keeping the root ball
or soil slightly damp. Do not flood the tree with water. Before bringing
the tree into the house, wrap the root ball in plastic sheeting or
place it in a plastic tub.
Decorate your living tree carefully. If you use lights, make sure
that they do not give off any heat.
After the holidays, return your tree to its sheltered place for
a few days to let it acclimate to the cold once more before planting
it. Never take a live tree into freezing temperatures directly from
the warm house. Doing so will shock the tree and may cause severe
damage to it.
Replant the tree in unfrozen ground. Prior to frosts, the spot
to be dug may be covered in a layer of mulch to prevent its freezing.
Plant your tree as soon as possible after its acclimation to the
cold.
To keep the root ball secure, do not remove the burlap or string
strapping. If the strapping is plastic or metal, remove it and leave
just the burlap. If the root ball came with a plastic sheeting cover,
cut the binding cords and roll the plastic at least halfway down
before you plant.
If your tree is in a plastic container, tap the bottom of the pot
and gently loosen and remove the tree. If the container is biodegradable,
leave the tree in it. Do not remove any soil from around the root
system as this may cause damage to the roots.
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Serbian Spruce
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Place your tree in its hole. Use the soil removed from the hole
to backfill in around the root ball. Add a thick layer of mulch
over the top of the filled hole to prevent the root ball from freezing.
Water your tree only enough to keep it moist as needed. Stake your
tree during its first growing season to prevent damage and wind
tipping.
Not all Southern States dealers carry live Christmas trees. See
your
local Southern States dealer for prices and availability.
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