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Christmas Tree Care

Time

Budget

Skill

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Have you been avoiding buying a real Christmas tree because you think it’s too difficult to take care of? Follow these simple steps and celebrate your holiday season with a beautiful evergreen tree.

Tools

Tool

Pruners

Tool

Rocks

Christmas Tree Stand

Christmas Tree Stand

Chainsaw or pruning saw

Chainsaw or pruning saw

Galvanized tub

Galvanized tub

Christmas tree

Christmas tree

1

Choose an evergreen Christmas tree

2

Have the base of the trunk re-cut before purchasing or re-cut trunk base at home with a pruning saw or chain saw

3

Put tree trunk base in bucket of water outside until ready to set inside

4

Set tree in stand, fill reservoir with lukewarm water, refilling with water regularly. Do not let the reservoir dry out. Keep it filled with water.

Tip

Follow the next few steps if you have a live tree with root ball.

1

Select appropriate sized evergreen tree from Garden Center. Common plants include Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Canadian Hemlock, Eastern Red Cedar, White Spruce, Blue Spruce, various firs.

2

Place tree in an unheated garage or storage shed for a few days to acclimatize, watering the root ball well

3

Fill tub with 2 inches of gravel

4

Bring tree indoors and place in galvanized tub

5

Keep tree well watered for the duration (Maximum number of days the tree can remain inside

6

Put the tree back in the garage or shed for the rest of the winter if you can’t plant it in the landscape. The tree can be planted after a few weeks in the garage if the ground is not frozen.

Congratulations! You did it! Sit back and enjoy your new lawn addition!

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