More and more home owners are buying a choice shrub for use as the Yuletide tree and then planting it in the garden following the holidays. This must be a part of the growing “green revolution” that is sweeping the planet. This is a good way to teach conservation to the children. explaining the process by which a tree grows and the time needed to produce one the size of a Christmas tree, and by encouraging children to help select and plant, one may foster their early appreciation for the conservation of trees and plants.

Many plants lend themselves well for use as a “living tree.” Among the best are pines, especially the Austrian, Scotch and pillion varieties. The pines usually come in containers from the plant store. Colorado blue spruce, Virginiana juniper and the Arizona cypress are also good shrubs in our area and will make good Christmas trees.

If the tree is nursery grown (and not container grown), make sure that the ball of earth is slightly larger than average and very well secured by burlap. It will have to withstand an unusual amount of handling.

A tin tray or pan under the ball to collect excess moisture is necessary. A small tub or half-barrel filled with damp sawdust around the ball of earth is very good insurance against drying out of the plant. Many nurserymen advertise “living Christmas trees,” and are equipped to handle them, even to the extent of spraying them with “Wilt-Pruf,” a compound to prevent dehydration of the plants.

The tree should be planted as soon as possible after Christmas. Leave the burlap around the ball of earth, as it will soon decay. Be sure to water the tree daily for about two weeks. In a few years, your family will have a collection of Christmas tree memories in the form of beautiful plants.