How to Replant Your Living Christmas Tree

When Christmas is over, you'll need to move your living Christmas tree outside. You can keep it in a pot and use it next year - but sooner or later you'll probably want to set it free.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Living Christmas Trees
• Mulch
• Snow Shovels

1. Choose an appropriate place for the tree. Remember that it will get bigger - be sure there's enough space to accommodate for your tree's growth.

2. Dig a hole about twice as big as the tree's pot.

3. Fill the hole part way with a mixture of soil and sand.

4. Lift the tree carefully out of the pot. (You may need to tug, and you may need help, especially if it's been in there for a while.)

5. Carefully and gently run your hands around the root ball to loosen the little feeder roots. (If there's a visible fabric layer surrounding the root ball, cut it off or make some slits in it.)

6. Lower the tree down into the hole. Check its height and adjust if necessary - the top of the root ball should be just about flush with ground level.

7. Hold the tree steady and fill in around the root ball, tamping dirt down firmly.

8. Water well and mulch, sloping mulch toward the trunk to direct water toward the trunk.

Tips & Warnings

• If the tree's been inside for a while, leave it outside in its pot for a week so it can adjust to the temperature.

• Watering with a root stimulator that contains Vitamin B1 will reduce transplant shock to the tree.

• Don't fertilize until you see new growth.

• Unless you know for sure you've bought a dwarf tree, assume that conifer roots will travel far and fast; don't plant the tree too close to your foundation.