The festive period may be slowly finishing but that doesn’t have to mean the end for your beloved Christmas tree. If you purchased a living tree this year then we recommend that you refrain from throwing it away and consider replanting it.

It’s not only a very ‘green’ thing to do but it will look great in your garden, provide a windbreak if harsh weather should occur and it will offer a welcome source of shade in the summer. Most notably it’s also a great habitat for wildlife.

Your Christmas tree can be replanted if it was purchased with its roots still intact, with the ball of earth preferably wrapped in burlap. If you plan on replanting your tree then we hope that it was kept in a draft free location indoors and that the root ball was kept damp the entire time the tree was in the house or it will not adapt well to transplantation. Firs, spruces, pines can all be replanted. The only varieties of tree that we advise against replanting are hemlocks. We have created a list of steps that should help when it comes to replanting your old festive friend!

  1. It is important to consider the hole that you will be planting your Christmas tree in. If you think the ground is likely to freeze then we advise digging a hole in advance. The chances of your tree surviving the process are increased significantly if you have a hole prepared.

  2. We recommend digging a hole that is about 1 and a ½ times larger than the root mass.

  3. Make sure that your planting site is situated far enough away from other trees and buildings to allow for any future growth.

  4. Before replanting the tree it is a really good idea to give it a transitional stay in a garage or a cold and sheltered place. When you originally purchased your Christmas tree is had been harvested in the cold and had gone into dormancy. To help your tree survive being replanted it is important to keep let it re-enter dormancy if it has started to come out of that state whilst in the warmer temperatures belonging to the indoors.

  5. When you are ready to replant your tree, firstly remove the burlap and any other coverings on the root ball. Carefully place your Christmas tree in the hole and then backfill it. The hole should then be filled with several inches of mulch and watered. Refrain from fertilizing as this can be done in the springtime.