"Lisa owns and operates Glacier Wallflower & Gifts in Columbia Falls, MT. She bought the shop fresh out of college in 1995. and has had a love affair with flowers and the floral industry ever since. Over the years she has spoken to many womens' groups about the care and handling of flowers and plants. She has served on the Teleflora Montana State Board as both a member and as the treasurer. And for the last 5 years or so she has written a monthly article for the Montana Woman magazine, and now she wishes to share her monthly articles with you. So please continue to check "Petals, Projects, & Pizzazz" for the latest month's article."

 

Start a new tradition with a live Christmas tree.

    December is finally here and you know what that means - Christmas!  It is time for that wonderful holiday when everyone decorates their home so beautifully.  You can drive in any direction and see wreaths adorning doors, twinkling lights aglow on their homes and Christmas trees decorated in front of their windows.  This year why not use  a fresh (still growing) Christmas tree?  There are several varieties to choose from including the tiny dwarf albertas to blue spruce, tannenbaums, and lots of varieties of pine and fir trees.  They range anywhere from 3'-6'feet and aren't that much more expensive than cut trees.  Most nurseries that are open year round will have them available.

    It is best to get started immediately though if having a live Christmas tree is what you want to do.  I would suggest visiting the nursery and choosing your tree first.  Most nurseries are happy to give care instructions but if they don't here's what you need to do.  Figure out where you want to plant your tree after Christmas and dig the hole.  This is why you want to get started early.  You have a better chance earlier in December (rather than late-December/January) of digging a hole of the ground not being frozen.

    If you have your tree prior to December 13th keep it outside.  Live Christmas trees will last only 1-2 weeks inside.  Most trees are in large black plastic pots (5-15 gallons).  There are several options for decorating or covering the pot to make it more aesthetically pleasing.  Depending upon the size you could get a plastic liner and tie burlap, a large piece of material from the fabric store, or even purchase a nice table cloth and tie the material up around the pot to the tree trunk.  If you prefer a more finished look you could also purchase a nice pot (usually available at nurseries) to place the plant in.  Either way I would suggest you find something that will function as a liner so that you can water the tree without it staining your floor.

    Of course now you get to decorate it and enjoy the holiday festivities.  After Christmas (when the decorations are put back in their boxes) place the tree outside in the garage or in a protected patio or porch.  The tree will need to climatize for about 2-4 days.  Once climatized plant your tree in the predug hole.  Water until soil is well saturated.  You actually want there to be so much water that an iceball will form.  This will actually help keep the tree hydrated through the winter and come spring you can begin watering again.  In the spring it is a good idea to fertilize.   I would suggest using an organic fertilizer called milorganite as it does not cause burning.  You now have a beautiful tree that will remind you of wonderful Christmas moments shared for years to come.

    From all of us at Glacier Wallflower & Gifts we wish you a very happy holiday season.  Visit us on our website www.glacierwallflower.com and come in to see our beautiful arrangements, awesome poinsettias an even more spectacular displays.