Replanting Your Christmas Memory

What a sad sight it is to see suburban cul-de-sacs and streets post-Christmas, with the “carcasses” of evergreens waiting to go to the landfill. More progressive and forward thinking cities, thankfully, at least, supposedly, deposit these into compostable piles along with the yard and kitchen waste that is regularly collected. Many cities simply toss these once stately, green holiday stalwarts on a pile to be crushed along with last year’s wrapping paper and refuse; piles that grow higher every year, in landfills that are doubling and tripling in size.

A more Earth-conscious alternative for many has emerged from the current trend of “green-mindedness”, namely, replanting that evergreen in lawn or garden, to (hopefully) continue its growth and add beauty and Christmas memories to your home’s landscape for many years to come. This, though not the easiest of tasks, is worthy of the attempt, as the sight of your stately tree will bring joy to your family and visitors alike, as retelling of “that special Christmas when…” goes on indefinitely.

After the holidays have passed, and provided your tree has survived its indoor environment by receiving adequate water to its base, find a place on your lawn where your holiday friend can grow and prosper. Remember of course, that if and when it grows, it will take up more and more space, so choose wisely, as moving it again will probably provide undue stress and harm to your tree. Some of the varieties of Christmas trees that are often replanted successfully are fir, spruce and pine, so choosing one of these trees is highly recommended if your chosen path is replanting instead of disposing after holiday celebrations. Replanting a tree is really only a viable option provided you have made the conscious choice of purchasing a living tree to begin with; one with root ball intact, wrapped in burlap, and readied for replanting. A tree that has been hacked at the base, most probably, will perish over the holidays and will have no hope of growing in the wild. To transition your living tree back to its outdoor climate, it is helpful to place it in a medium-cool, interim resting-place such as a garage or outbuilding. In this manner, your tree can become better acclimated to its new (again) outdoor environment. It is then necessary to dig a hole in your chosen spot, nearly twice as large as the tree’s fragile root ball, and then, carefully lower it into place within. Remove the burlap from the roots and water the roots thoroughly with your hose from the garden hose reel. Recover the tree’s roots with the soil removed, and your tree will be on its way. Watering your tree twice weekly will help ensure it gets adequate moisture for growth; fertilizer can be added as well to provide more nutrients to its soil.

By replanting your Christmas tree, you are making a choice to conserve and recycle, continuing the giving spirit of Christmas and “transplanting” it into your daily landscape.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.