Buying A Christmas Tree To Plant

Purchasing a balled and burlapped (B&B) tree as a Christmas Tree can be a rewarding, but challenging, holiday tradition. The key is timing. You should buy the tree as close to Christmas as possible and keep it indoors no longer than necessary. You can keep a B&B tree indoors for between 7 an 10 days. Place it near a window in your home to keep it cool.

It is also helpful to prepare an area for planting before the ground freezes so it is easier to dig. Make the hole only slightly larger than the root ball. You can fill the hole with mulch and cover it with a tarp to protect it.

When you bring the tree home place it in a shed or garage for a few days to help it adjust to the warmer air. Make sure to display it by a window in a watertight tub and keep the roots moist and cool. Ice cubes can be very helpful with this.

After Christmas, place the tree back in the garage or shed to acclimate it to the cold air. Choose a mild day and put the tree in the hole. Make sure you backfill with soil, tamp gently, water and finish by mulching. DO NOT remove the burlap or the metal wire basket.