Page 57 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-18.indd

Care and Planting of your Living Christmas Tree
By Cam Teter
As a kid growing up, Christmas was all about getting under that tree and
rippin’ some wrappin’ paper! As an adult, it’s coffee first, then gently removing paper to be used again. In retrospect, as I sit here now and the memories come flooding back, I remember the many traditions that made Christmas and the Holidays special then and now.
Real quality time with family, Christmas caroling, baking cookies, wrapping presents, hot cider, and going to the tree farm to cut our own tree. In our family we had another tradition bestowed upon us by my grandmother who said, “If you are gonna cut one, you oughta plant one.” So we always had a potted or balled & burlapped tree outdoors, decorated with strings if popcorn and cranberries for the birds and squirrels. These were later planted around the property where, in time, they grew tall and elegant and are enjoyed year- round.
Live trees can be brought indoors and decorated same as traditional cut tress. They’re not difficult to do if you follow these simple rules:
• Keep them well-watered every day
• Use a deep pan, washtub, or other waterproof container to catch run-off and
protect your floor
• Let the plant suck up excess between waterings. The bigger the tree, the more
water it will need.
• Keep it away from heat sources such as heater vents, wood stoves or
fireplaces. They don’t like heat and dry out quickly.
• Remember, they are grown outdoors and are acclimated to seasonal conditions. As such, I recommend keeping them indoors 10-14 days
maximum. This is especially true in colder climates or warmer homes. • Near a window is better than a darker corner.
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memory. If you don’t have room on your property, please ask the nursery where you purchased the tree if they have
suggestions for someone who lost their trees to fire, if there’s
place or person where you
can donate the tree to bring n n e e w w l l i i f f e e a a n nd d h h a a b b i it t a at t t t o o w wh h a at t
h h a a s s b b e e e e n n d d e e s s t t r r o oy ye e d d b b y y f f i i r r e e. . I I f f y yo o u u
p pl l a a n nt t t t o o d do o t t h h i i s s i i n n a ad dv va a n nc c e e, , m m a a k k e e s s u u r r e e y yo o u u p p u u r r c c h h a a s s e e a a t t r r e e e e t t h h a at t i i s s
natural to the habitat where it will spend its life.
F Fo o r r a a n n e e x xc c e e l l l l e e n n t t v v i i d d e e o o o o n n H o w t o P l a n t Balled and Burlapped Trees
by the Arbor Day Foundation, please visit this website: www.arborday.org/
POST your EVENTS online all month @ SonomaCountyGazette.com
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12/18 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 57