News / Life / Clark County Life

Gardening With Allen: 2 options to avoid Christmas tree needles

By Allen Wilson for The Columbian

Published: November 29, 2018, 6:03am

I’m tired of fake Christmas trees. Yet I also don’t like the needle drop from real cut Christmas trees. Do I have any other choices?

I can suggest two possible choices. The best choice is a live potted tree. The other choice is a freshly cut tree from one of our local Christmas tree farms.

Potted, living Christmas trees can be planted in your yard after Christmas as an added bonus. Some of the same trees sold as fresh Christmas trees are available as living potted trees from local full-service nurseries. Several varieties of fir trees including Noble, Grand, Frazier and Douglas are available in sizes of about 6 to 7 feet. Some potted pine and spruce trees are also suitable.

While their branches may not be as thick and perfect in shape, they will have a more natural look. Most of these tree varieties grow to 50 feet and taller when planted outside.

Dwarf Alberta spruce trees are popular as miniature trees. They are available in sizes ranging from 18 inches to 4 feet. They typically mature at heights of 6 to 10 feet.

Some other trees that mature at sizes ranging from 6 to 20 feet can also make excellent Christmas trees. Dwarf fir, spruce, cypress, pine and hemlock are often also available at full-service nurseries and garden stores. A tree could be donated to someone who has an appropriate place to plant it even if you do not. Staff at full-service nurseries can help you select a living tree and advise you about possible places to plant it in your own landscape.

Other flowering landscape plants such as camellia and gardenia can also be used for indoor decoration.

Potted trees will start to grow after about two weeks inside, so they should only be left inside for 10 to 12 days. The best procedure is to dig a hole for the tree now and then plant it as soon as possible after Christmas.

The main reason live cut Christmas trees shed needles quickly is because they have dried out before you purchase them. If you buy from a local Christmas tree farm, they will be freshly cut the day you purchase them. They will not have had the trip on a truck where the wind dries them. Placing a cut tree in a water-holding stand will also reduce drying and needle drop.

A family trip to select a tree from a local tree farm or nursery can be an exciting adventure, especially for young children.

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