If you have set up a living Christmas tree this year to one day be part of the yard, there are a few things to consider once the season is done. One wonders if the root ball will fare well in Lancaster’s clay or what it takes from the time you are done with the ornaments to when the tree is in the ground.
We at CBC Lawn and Tree, LLC (CBC Tree Service) make it our business to help homeowners in Lancaster, SC and the surrounding area put their best foot forward with the trees on their land. Have any questions about a living Christmas tree? Call us at (803) 680-2239.
In a burlap wrapping or container, a living Christmas tree is sold with its roots intact. Unlike a cut specimen, plant it and it will be around for decades. Yet some forethought is called for to keep it alive, the local soil being what it is.
The Best Way to Handle It Indoors
After all it is a living thing and will not do well cooped up in the dry warmth of your home for weeks. The heat can put an end to its dormancy and weaken the tree by lulling it into a false spring before you return it to the outdoors.
Keep its stay as short as possible. We would advise:
- Seven to ten days at most
- A room that is cool but has good light
- Stay away from heating vents and the fireplace
- Keep the root ball or container soil moist
- Opt for LED or cool lights so as not to add heat
Acclimating the Tree
To put a tree out in the winter cold straight from the living room is to invite trouble; the shock of it could be enough. Ease it in with a couple of days in a garage or shed, or on a covered porch. Water it while it is in such a spot, the roots will need it.
Have Your Hole Ready
It is easy to overlook. We have no use for the unpleasantness of digging in wet or frozen clay in late December as one does in this part of the country. Be sensible and get your planting hole in before the holidays start while the ground is still amenable. Put the displaced soil in the garage or a bin so it does not harden up. Then you will have an open hole to put it in.
A Proper Job
With clay that is reluctant to drain you can not be as casual as with sandier earth; the tree must be at the proper depth and the roots given room.
For a good start:
- Dig a hole at least two or three times as wide as the root ball
- Not deeper than the root ball itself
- Remove any wire, burlap or container prior to setting
- Loosen the clay so the roots are free to go
- Backfill with the hole’s soil rather than a bag of potting mix
- Give it a thorough watering after planting
- Apply an inch or two of mulch, keeping it off the trunk
Looking After It in Year One
When the tree is in the ground you are not finished. Our weather and its storms are not kind to a young tree as it puts down roots. If it is dry in the winter water it. Following a drenching rain check that the clay has not turned to a waterlogged mess and rotted the new roots.
And if a storm has put the tree in harm’s way or you are not sure how it is taking to the transplant we will come and have a look, and once it is established we can help keep it shaped with professional tree care needs.
We are fully licensed and insured and cover the area from Rock Hill and Fort Mill to Indian Land, Great Falls, Lesslie, Ridgeway, Kershaw and Camden. For a free estimate we are available 24/7. For your living Christmas tree or any other tree care needs, get in touch with CBC Lawn and Tree, LLC at (803) 680-2239.