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Index : Trees
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- 7. Plant Living Christmas Trees Soon - Top
- Now that Christmas has come and gone, it's time to plant the living Christmas trees outside. The sooner these potted trees are removed from the warm, dry environment inside the home, the better their chances of survival after planting.
First, determine where to locate your tree. This will depend on the variety you have purchased. Afghan pine (Pinus eldarica) and Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) are the most common living Christmas trees sold in Tucson. If you have one of these, take care not to plant it too close to your house, property line or driveway. These are both large growing species that need lots of room.
Afghan pines will grow to a height of 30 to 50 feet and a spread of 15 to 25 feet. Alleppo pines grow just as tall, but even wider - from 20 to 40 feet. Consider the ultimate width of the tree when locating it. Plant the tree no closer to the house than half it's maximum width. For instance, an Afghan with an ultimate spread of 25 feet, should be planted no closer than 12.5 feet from the house. Also, do not plant these trees under power or other utility lines. They will eventually grow up into the lines and require frequent, severe pruning to keep them in check.
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica) is another tree sold as a living Christmas tree. They too can grow large, up to 50 feet tall and 25 feet wide. So, like the pines, they too should be spaced appropriately in terms of ultimate size, keeping in mind obstructions.
Even if you can't plant your tree immediately, move it outside in a shady location. This will help prevent the tree from drying out excessively before planting. Thoroughly water the container when you get it outside, and keep watering often enough to maintain the soil at an even moisture level.
The planting hole you dig should be the same depth as the depth of the root ball, measuring from the top layer of soil to the bottom of the pot. The width of the hole should be wider than the root ball by a foot or so. This will give the side roots room to expand.
Do not dig the hole deeper than the depth of the root ball! If you do, the soil in the bottom of the hole will settle over time, dropping the plant in the hole too deep. Soil can then fill around the base of the trunk, causing it to slowly die.
Before filling the hole, remove all large stones from the backfill soil. Fill in around the root ball with the same soil removed when digging the hole. Roots must adapt to growing in the existing soil. Making an artificial mix by adding organic matter will only serve to restrict normal growth and confine the roots to the planting hole.
Once planted, the soil should be firmed around the root ball and the tree thoroughly watered. To help direct irrigation water, form a berm of soil several inches high around the outside edge of the planting hole. The basin will hold water and direct it down through the root ball and surrounding soil.
Watering should continue once or twice weekly through the cool winter months. To help conserve soil moisture and warmth, mulch the top of the roots with a three inch layer of ground cedar mulch, forest mulch or bagged compost.
When spring temperatures warm to consistent daytime highs in the upper 70's, increase the frequency of watering to twice-weekly. A small amount of fertilizer may be applied in early March to stimulate new spring growth. One half cup of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) or similar analysis fertilizer can be sprinkled over the roots and watered into the soil.
New growth on pines comes in the form of elongated shoots on the ends of the branches called "candles". When young these candles are soft and have small needles that will later elongate. When the candle has grown to about 4 to 5 inches in length, bend and break off half of the candle. This will promote a thickening of the needles. It's also a way to restrict the overall size of the tree, and can be done each spring.
Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona, 520-626-5161. - Updated: December 28, 2003
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