I thought that Libby did a great job laying out all of the pros and the cons in the real versus fake Christmas tree debate and how these choices relate to green living. But there was another choice that many people don’t know about, and I wanted to talk a little bit about that today in my post.
The third option when it comes to Christmas trees is to select a live tree. A live tree is a real, grown tree that comes with its root ball in tact. The tree is not killed to become decoration. Rather, it can beautify your home, help you celebrate the season and then live out the remainder of its life alive on the planet.
A live tree can be planted in your own backyard or donated to a local cause, such as your town park or a local preserve. I like the idea of a live tree because it is probably the greenest choice.
At the end of your celebration, you can have an actual tree to commemorate Christmas and be a reminder of your wonderful holiday for years to come.
Live trees do require some special care. You need to water the tree of course, but before you even bring it inside, there are a couple of steps to take first. You want to help your tree adjust to the warmer indoors. When you first bring your tree home, store it for three or four days in the garage or an enclosed porch.
Check the tree for insects or insect eggs before bringing it indoors.
Consider spraying a natural anti-wilt agent on your tree. You can get this from your local garden store. The agent will help the tree to retain moisture and preserve more of its needles.
Once the tree is inside, place it away from heating ducts, ovens or other hot spots in your home.
Water your tree only until moist and do not feed it.
Remove the tree from inside your home within four to seven days and definitely no longer than ten days. You’ll need to store it in the garage again for three to four days again, before planting it outside.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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