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Congratulations. You’ve bought yourself a live Christmas tree that can be replanted in your yard and enjoyed for years to come.
If you don’t know how to replant a Christmas tree, your tree may not survive if you just plop it into the ground. You need to know how to do it properly so that your tree will live.
When I was a child, my parents bought a potted tree for Christmas that we replanted in the yard after the holidays. It was a special time because we didn’t just throw a tree away it was a family activity that we did together.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Replanting Your Living Christmas Tree
This article will give you a few suggestions on how you can replant a living Christmas tree. Follow the steps in order and you should be able to successfully plant your tree.
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The Transition
Before plopping your tree into a hole outside, you have to transition the tree. Think of all that the tree has been through, climate-wise at least.
First, it was at the nursery, then inside your home, and now you want to take it back out and plant it? Before you plant it outside, have it set somewhere outside in its container (with a burlap sack so it doesn’t try out) for 3-4 days so it can get used to being outdoors again. This is important for successful replanting.
The Hole
The second step to replanting your living Christmas tree is to dig a hole. Chose a nice area with lots of room for your tree to grow and grab a shovel.
Mother Earth News suggests that you dig a hole about 1 ½ times larger than the mass of the root and gently put the tree into the hole.
Use the dirt that you dug up and pack it carefully around the root of the tree, though you can use a combination of soil and sand for successful replanting.
If you do this method, first put the soil and sand combination at the very bottom of the hole. Plant the tree and then fill in the rest of the way.
Watering
After your tree is in the hole, eHow.com recommends that you water plenty with mulch. Water the mulch close to the trunk of the tree so the tree gets watered well.
When my family replanted our living Christmas tree growing up, we used vitamin B1. eHow.com also recommends this method because it reduces transplant shock.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing your tree should only be done with you see new growth. You shouldn’t use fertilizing at the time of planting because it can be more harmful than helpful.
What You’ll Need
You really don’t need that many items to replant a living Christmas tree. You need your tree obviously, as well as a good shovel. Gloves are helpful if you don’t want to get dirty or hurt.
Vitamin B1 is recommended, though not required. Water and mulch are the last two things you’ll need for successful tree planting.