Of all the wonderful ways you can decorate your living room for the holiday season, it’s no secret that one of our favorites is the tabletop tree. Perfect for decorating small spaces, tabletop trees often come with root balls intact so that they don’t dry out over the season. Luckily, that means that your tabletop tree is still alive – and can transcend Christmas decorum when planted outside. Live miniature spruces popularly used as tabletops can be transplanted in the yard or used as container plants, and it’s surprisingly easy.
Start by removing ornaments and other décor from the tree (don’t worry, we won’t tell if you’re still listening to Christmas carols while doing this part; Christmas isn’t really over until the ornaments are boxed away!).
Next, remove the tree from the decorative container as well as the nursery pot and carefully loosen the roots.
Your next step would depend on your region’s climate- those with cold, harsh winters should repot the tree in a larger container and wait till spring for transplanting it in the garden. Those with mild, frost-free winters, on the other hand, can replant the tree outdoors now.
When you’re searching the right spot for transplanting your decorative Christmas tree, look for a sunny site that provides ample space for the tree’s future growth. Most conifers relish moist, well drained, acidic soil. Make sure you amend the soil at the planting site in accordance.
Repotting indoors, you should find a large container with plenty of drainage holes and fill in the bottom with gravel. Add good quality potting soil and move the tree in, spreading out its roots in the process. Water well after planting and place the container in a covered spot that gets a good amount of sunlight on a daily basis.
If you’re replanting the decorative tree outside, clear out the debris and loosen the soil before setting the tree into the ground. Firmly press down the soil around the tree’s base to create a smooth surface and irrigate thoroughly.
Regular irrigation and a little attention in the following months will ensure your tabletop tree transforms into a garden tree that spreads joy for years to come.
