If you like the smell and feel of a real holiday tree, why not bring in a live one? Cut trees have many benefits - for instance, they're used for stopping erosion along some beaches on the East Coast. But a live tree continues living after the holidays - if you treat it right. Here's how.
Live trees can't stay in the house very long. They can only handle 3 or 4 days. Take your tree outside as soon as possible.
Your holiday tree will do fine outside if you can't plant it immediately. Just store it in a sheltered area behind a fence or on the north side of your house. Add water to the root ball once a month, unless it's frozen.
You can hope the ground is thawed when you want to plant your tree. Or you can dig out your hole in advance, before the ground freezes. Cover the dirt you dig out with a tarp, and cover the hole with some plywood. When you're ready to plant, the hard part of the job will already be done. See our article on planting trees.
