Keeping Holiday Trees Alive into the New Year
Keeping a live tree that can be planted outdoors after the holidays is a great sustainable alternative to the short-lived joy of a cut tree! There is no question that it is a larger commitment of time and resources, but the benefit to the urban ecosystem and the warm nostalgia of watching a holiday tree grow over time is a reward that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
When selecting a live tree, it's important to consider that not all evergreen trees you come across during the holiday season are equally suitable for our climate, or for transitioning from indoors to outdoors during the coldest part of the season. Although it's one of the most frequently-sold live holiday trees, spruce of any kind isn’t advisable for the Albuquerque area if you plan on planting it outdoors after the holidays end. They like regular, even moisture and cool temperatures, both of which are difficult to provide in our region. Rosemary topiary trees and small grocery store cypress trees can also struggle and die in the transition outdoors during winter. Pine, cedar, and juniper will fare much better in our climate and once planted, will provide shade and wildlife habitat for decades to come.
Once you have selected a tree, try to give it a few days in a cold location like a garage so it can gradually make the transition from freezing temperatures outdoors to the warm temperatures inside the house. It is also important to limit the amount of time the tree will be indoors. Too long of a warm period might trigger the tree to wake up from winter dormancy and push new, tender growth. This growth won’t have a chance to harden and will be damaged by winter freezes. A week indoors is usually fine, but too much longer increases the risk of stressing and damaging the tree.
When watering indoors, keep live evergreen trees evenly moist, but don’t allow them to stand in water. For cut trees, standing water is a must to prevent them from becoming a fire hazard, but for live trees, constantly soggy feet can be a death sentence. Check the soil frequently and water your tree before the soil dries out completely. In a warm house, this may mean daily watering is necessary. Try to position your live tree away from direct heat sources such as a south-facing window, heater, or fireplace. Keeping it as cool as possible when indoors will help prevent new, tender growth.
When you are ready to plant your tree after your celebrations are over, move it back into the garage for a few days to re-adjust to colder temperatures before moving it outside. You can keep your tree outdoors in the container until early spring, but you must water it regularly through the winter. Similarly, if you choose to plant your tree during winter, your tree will need regular watering. Soil can be allowed to dry out slightly in either situation, but your tree will need a deep watering, enough to saturate the root ball, on warm winter days and once the top few inches of the soil become dry.
For trees left in containers, this can mean weekly or biweekly. Don’t rely on winter precipitation watering trees in containers. Even a large amount of precipitation will not be captured by a container and trees need thorough, deep watering to thrive. For newly planted trees, water every two to three weeks in winter, depending on how much precipitation we receive. Once planted, plan on watering your tree consistently through the first year, whenever the top few inches of the soil become dry. This can mean weekly, or even as much as twice a week during the hottest part of summer.
Once the tree has been planted for a year you can tapering off watering frequency, but always water trees deeply, no matter how long they have been in the ground. This will encourage deep roots and help the tree survive through drought, stress, and high winds. With a little extra care, your festive holiday tree can bring year-round joy to your family, as well as the people and wildlife we share our neighborhoods with!