How to Choose a Living Christmas Tree

And of course, artificial Christmas trees came into vogue in the 20th century, but some of us just have to have the scent and feel of the real thing.

Now a third option is becoming increasingly popular: a living Christmas tree, one that doesn't get thrown out with the wrapping paper, but can be planted to enhance the landscape and be there for many holiday seasons to come.

Potted evergreens have always been available at nurseries, but now more garden centers seem to have more choices and sizes on hand for those looking for a living tree.

Two of those that seem like natural choices, Monterey pine and Italian stone pine, are often carried by nurseries. However, both should be treated with a little bit of caution, according to conifer grower Glenn Church of Royal Oaks, California.

"You don't want to get Monterey pine or Italian stone pine unless you have a big space to put it in," said Church, who grows choose-and-cut Christmas trees as well as 60 varieties of exotic evergreens on his property in north Monterey County.

Italian stone pines, which have a beautiful rounded shape, can get to be 30 feet across and 50 feet tall; Monterey pine can get very tall, 60 feet or more after a few decades.

These trees won't work in a small back yard, needless to say.

Homeowners also have to consider the upkeep of such large trees in the future, because trees that get this big need to have professionals trimming them.

Some other trees that he suggests for planting after Christmas will be slower growing and smaller in stature.

Church suggests several of the spruces - white or Norway - or the Colorado blue spruce, which has attractive bluish-green needles.

"They're not fast growing, which is what you want (for a back yard)," he said. All of these will grow in a natural Christmas tree shape.

If you do want bigger trees, but something more unusual than Monterey pine, consider the incense cedar, native to the Sierra Nevada, which Church notes is extremely drought-resistant. Another he likes is the Sierra redwood, or sequoia.

If you want to go the other way and have a very small tree to plant out, there are dwarf varieties available online. The dwarf Alberta spruce is one, which grows only to be 6 to 8 feet high.

Steve McShane, general manager and owner of McShane's Nursery & Landscape Supply in Salinas, California, recommends homeowners in coastal California look at native redwoods, especially the Soquel or Aptos blue, and cypress.

"These have the greatest chance of survival in this area," he said.

But he does note that gardeners should look carefully at the species of tree and how large it might grow, and not to buy just something that looks cute.

There are a few immediate practicalities to consider when picking out your living Christmas tree.

First of all, because living trees are much heavier than cut Christmas trees, you may want to get a smaller size than you would if you were buying a cut tree. A potted 7-foot tree is probably going to be too heavy to carry into the house easily.

There is also the expense of buying a larger tree, although because this is something permanent you're adding to your landscape, the cost is going to be worthwhile.

A 4 to 5-foot tree will cost around $50, and the price goes up from there, depending on the size and variety.

McShane said you don't want to buy your tree too soon, because the more quickly you can get it in the ground, the better chance it has of growing successfully.

"It's definitely more responsibility than a cut tree or a houseplant," he said. "You want to wait as long as you can before making your purchase."

Placing an outdoor tree in a warm house can cause it to go into shock, McShane said. If you do buy a living Christmas tree, be aware that you won't be able to use it as a decoration for more than 10 days.

"You want to make it as comfortable for the tree as possible," he said.

It's best to leave the tree outside or in an unheated garage until you're ready to decorate it. Be sure to keep it watered during this time.

As with any real tree, you'll want to hose it down before you bring it inside to get rid of bugs, loose needles and dirt.

Place your tree in a bucket or tub to catch dirt and spills, and to stabilize it. Keep it away from fireplaces, direct sunlight and heating vents, which can dry out the tree. Try not to overheat the room while the tree is inside.

Check the soil daily to see if it needs water - it should stay damp, but not wet.

McShane also recommends limiting the number of electric bulbs on the tree, because these will also tend to dry it out.