Best Christmas Trees Grown In Containers

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 287, 8 August 1957, Page 9

Best Christmas Trees Grown In Containers

Each summer many conifers afe damaged th rough having tops or branclies cut off, often without the owners' permission, to make Christmas trees. To avoid this damage and to ensure the provision of better Christmas trees, the Department of Agriculture recommends the growing of live trees in containers. To be available for use at Christmas these trees neecl to be tubbed now. Christmas trees made from the branches and tops of pine trees wilt quickly, are often not straight, and have too long needles that tend to cover the decorations and make the use of lighted candles hazardous. A live tree in a container is fresh during the whole time it is in use as a Christmas tree and has the additional advantage of being able to be used as an ornamental during the rest of the year. The Department suggests the choice of spruce or fir for plantmg, both being widely used for Christmas trees in the Northern Hemisphere. The best tree is probably the Spanisii | fir (Abies pinsapo), which has vcry ! compact and sturdy growth wita bal- 1 anced placing of the branches ; being slow growing it lasts for many j years in a tub. The cheapest tree to buy and the j quickest to develop is the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) , also called the Oregon pine. It may not be qnite as good as the Spanish fir, but it is satisfactory and though not long lived in a container, it should have a | life of at least four to five years. Other suitable trees are the cedars, especially the deodar cedar, and var- 1 ious Lawson's cypresses. . Any type of container can be used provided it allows free drainage. Satisfactory containers can be obtained from cut-down four-gallon tins, which can be painted or covered I for display indoors, or wooden bar- 1 rels in which grapes have been im- ! ported. No container should be too ! deep in relation to its width as this | will increase the weight without j benefit to the tree. The best soLl available sliould be used in containers and should be j mixed with well-rotted animal man- ! ure or compost. The inclusion of i coarse, sharp sand will assist in | keeping the soii open, and a layer of | rubble, rough stones, or crocks will ! prevent blockage of the lioles that j should be made in the bottom of the container for drainage. The soil should not pack too hard, | but should be made firm by being | rammed with a broom handle. The soil placed round roots should not be : too ricli, but as the tree is to remain in the container for some years, a rieher mixture should be used in the bottom ; this will be beneficial in later years and will keep the plant healthy.