[James Kilkelly, was GPI.]

Plant a live Christmas tree, the Colorado blue spruce.
by GPI

Although their heights may have decreased this year due to the death rattle of the Celtic tiger, Christmas trees have still been erected in sitting rooms right across the country. For those out there who have yet to put up their tree (shame on you) , you can take a few steps to encourage those pine needles cling on for longer than usual.

Safety first, so when you return home with your Christmas tree, select a safe place to position it, preferably in corner where it is unlikely to be knocked over. Keeping it away from stoves and radiators will help to prolong its needles and lessen fire danger.

It is natural and common for a conifer tree to accelerate the shedding of needles if they are allowed to dry out. So, using a small saw, cut about an inch off the bottom of the tree at a slight angle to create a fresh wound, aiding water absorption.

Next, the tree should be placed in a stand with a large reservoir of water. As was done in years past, you could fill a large container with damp sand, then secure the tree stem within this DIY tree holder. Whether your stand is modern shop-bought or make-do, don’t forget to check and water the tree as required 3 times daily, or you may need buy another one next week due to rapid dry-out.

The Colorado blue spruce is famous for its steel blue needles., photo / picture / image.

Other tree options.
Now while I love the look and smell of the sitting room Christmas tree, there is one other form of holiday tree that is close to my heart. Imagine a tree that will play host to your tinsel, star, and multicoloured lights, but will not leave you picking fallen needles out of your carpet at the end of the festivities. You will have to buy this tree just once, and you will never be left to dispose of it at the end of the Christmas period.

I know what you are thinking; it’s one of those plastic ones. But no, it’s not, a fake plastic tree or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) specimen, would be one which I would be slow to recommend to the environmentally minded homeowner.

Instead, let yourself go green for the holiday season by planting a living Christmas tree right into your garden in full view of a main window. The initial outlay for the tree plus low voltage outdoor lights (important) will be far outweighed by its dependability year after year, and your lessened impact on the environment. No need to purchase and dispose of a tree each year, just sling the lights over your outdoor tree each winter and forget about any dropped needles.

This could be your new garden project for spring, as the month of March is the safest time to plant such a conifer tree for Christmas appeal. When selecting a planting location for your tree, remember to plant it where it can be seen easily, but also select a position which will afford it protection from drying winds, possibly within a buffer of wind resistant planting such as Alder, Mountain Ash, Fuchsia etc.

What outdoor Christmas tree varieties?
The main species of Christmas trees grown and sold in Ireland are the Noble fir, lodgepole pine and Norway spruce. Now these are great as cut indoor trees, stopped at a stage in their life while they are still lowly and manageable. However if left to grow in your garden they would dwarf other plantings, so you must instead select a tree suitably Christmassy, but with a moderate ultimate height and growth rate.

The one tree that I have found that ticks all these boxes is Picea pungens 'Hoopsii' or the Colorado blue spruce. As well as being moderate of growth, it has a nice conical shape with strong limbs that can easily hold heavy lights and ornaments. This particular blue spruce is famous for its steel blue needles, which offer a taste of Christmas even on a wet day.

Why not contact your local garden centre and see if they can source a 4ft plus specimen, root-balled or container-grown, for springtime planting. Standing proud above heathers in a bed lightly dusted with snow, it will look magical, and that’s a Christmas promise.

Any queries or comments on Plant a live Christmas tree, the Colorado blue spruce, please post below.

[medieval knievel]

korean firs are lovely too.

[sandra12]