I know its not even Thanksgiving yet but consider this. If you have thought far enough ahead to be considering a live Christmas tree this year to be added to your landscape later, be sure to dig the planting hole now, while the ground is still unfrozen.

This is especially important for our viewers in higher elevations. After you have selected the location in your landscape and dug the hole, make sure to cover it with say a piece of plywood. Place the material coming out of the hole on a plastic tarp and cover it also. Keep in mind the growing characteristics of the Christmas tree you are about to plant because you don't want to end up one of my casualties in placing the wrong tree in the wrong place. One more thing is to remember, dig that hole twice as wide as the ball it comes with. Too often, live Christmas trees remain in the house too long. How long is too long? I would say plan on having the tree inside no longer than say 4-6 days. What you don't want to do is leave the tree inside several days before Christmas and into New Years. Their chances of survival outdoors under these situations is extremely low.

As a review, here are some things to remember when having a live Christmas tree for the holidays. Know where you want to place the tree outdoors ahead of time. Prepare the planting hole early. Keep the Christmas tree watered well before and while the tree is inside. Consider this, before you bring the tree inside, keep it in a cool place to slowly adjust its situation indoors. Only leave the tree inside no more than 4-6 days before planting outside. Finally, keep the tree watered well into the spring till natural rains take over. By doing these simple chores, you can help guarantee that the live Christmas tree you want to move to your outdoor landscape will be there for years to come.