Consider Potted Christmas Trees
By Kay DiVerde
Do you hate spending the money on a live Christmas tree that ends up in the garbage soon after Christmas? Not only can live trees be a waste of money, the leftover trees sure make their impact on the city dump! This year, why not consider purchasing a potted evergreen which can be decorated for the holiday season and then planted out in your yard? In the long run, this purchase can help the environment, fill your home with a beautiful evergreen scent and then enhance your landscaping for years to come.
Large containerized evergreens can often be expensive, but you may be able to find a great deal on one since December is not the most common time for tree planting. When doing your shopping, keep in mind that it will be best for your tree to only remain indoors for about a week. And you'll need to water it religiously to keep it alive and healthy.
When deciding which tree to buy, consider what it will look like this holiday season in addition to how it will look as a full-grown tree. Many nurseries purposely prune their evergreens in the shape of a Christmas tree during the holiday season, even if that's not the shape it will maintain in the future. Be sure to read the label to find out if the variety is naturally dwarfed or if it will grow up later into a tall tree.
Common types of potted evergreens include silvery-needled blue spruces, dainty-tipped dwarf Alberta spruces, silver fir and balsam fir. Deodora cedar and Monterey pines may also be found in nurseries during the holidays. As these trees grown, they will lose their false pyramids and take their true rangy but sculptural form. A pine are cedar tree will look beautiful in a pot, but keep in mind that they will grow to 75 feet as mature trees. Where will you plant that in your yard to keep it from being a landscape liability? White pines, or Pinus strobus contoria also grow to 60-80 feet high when mature.
Rosemary bushes are a great variety if you want to keep your holiday tree potted on the patio. Rosemary is a drought-hardy variety and holds up a little better than evergreens under indoor central heating conditions. And it will not turn crispy if you forget to water it every once in a while during the hot summer.
Many options are available if you decide to buy a potted evergreen this holiday season. Your choice can save the environment AND your landscaping pocketbook. Take the time to read up on before making a purchase to consider the size of your tree at maturity, and don't just pick the cutest tree at the nursery. Choosing a potted tree this year could be the start of a great tradition for you and your yard!
Kay DiVerde is a freelance writer, horticultural researcher and consultant for Orchard's Edge. DiVerde also writes for a variety of newsletters and publications in the Midwest.
