Question: We have decided to have a live Christmas tree in our home this year that we can plant in our landscape after the holidays. Would it be okay to simply dig one up at a local Christmas tree farm, and then plant it after the holidays?

Answer: Buying a live Christmas tree has become a popular practice in recent years. In addition to being used indoors as a Christmas tree, they are eventually planted outdoors as part of the landscape. Although in theory your idea to simply dig up a tree at a local farm sounds reasonable, in most cases it will prove unsuccessful.

Many farms will not allow you to dig trees. The majority of Christmas trees grown in Western Washington are timber trees which will continue to grow into very large specimens unsuitable for most residential landscapes. In addition, most Christmas tree farms do not root prune their trees. As a result, the trees have developed a deep tap root which will be severed in the digging process. Once the tap root is severed, the chances for transplanting are greatly decreased. All too often, these trees turn brown and quickly die once warmer weather arrives in the spring.

A far better option for obtaining a live Christmas tree is to visit a local nursery or garden center and choose a potted tree or ornamental that has a growth habit suitable for inclusion in your landscape. These plants are most often sold as “balled and burlapped” or in containers. In both instances, the plant root systems have usually been sufficiently pruned during the growing process to allow for successful transplanting.

As soon as you get the tree home, water it immediately. From this time on, until the tree is transplanted, it is essential that the soil be kept moist. Do not overwater! Moist soil does not mean soggy wet. Wrapping the soil ball or container with plastic may help to retain moisture. Since the tree will retain its freshness better in a cool location, don’t bring the tree indoors too early. A day or two before Christmas would be ideal. Set the tree up in a cool location.