The beauty of a potted Christmas tree sat outside on your porch or lawn, decorated for Christmas with lights. It’s a vision many of us have. And unlike cut trees that shed needles all over the place, even outside, potted Christmas trees are living plants that can thrive all through the Christmas season and long after with the right care. Having a potted Christmas tree outside is like investing in your home for Christmas’ to come. They’re a sustainable way to bring Christmas cheer to your home, they’re better value in the long-term, and a true investment in family tradition and Christmas magic. That’s why it’s important you learn how to look after your potted Christmas tree outside. Your potted Christmas tree could be with your family for years, becoming a tradition to decorate.
In this article, we’ll talk about keeping a potted Christmas tree healthy outside. From the first steps of deciding what type of tree works best, watering tips, protecting it from winter’s chill, and a bunch of other useful tricks. It’s not just about keeping it alive, it’s about making it thrive and giving you all the advice to make sure your outdoor Christmas tree is living its best winter life.
- Prepare Your Tree
- How easy is it to look after an outdoor potted Christmas tree?
- Watering and Feeding Your Outdoor Potted Christmas Tree
- Protecting the Tree from Winter Elements
- Pruning and Maintenance Tips for a Healthy Tree
- What to do with Your Tree After the Holidays
- Common Issues with Outdoor Potted Christmas Trees
Choosing Your Potted Christmas Tree for Outdoors
Not all trees are suited for outdoor life in winter. Some Christmas trees, like the traditional Balsam or Fraser Fir, don’t take too kindly to life in a pot, especially in cold weather. The Norway Spruce or Blue Spruce, on the other hand? They’re hardy and can handle the ups and downs of winter weather a bit better. This is the variety of tree that you want to choose and that will thrive best outside.
Tree variety and appearance
Different outdoor Christmas trees have a different look. Here are our top 5 favorite varieties of potted Christmas tree and a description of their appearance to help you choose the best one for your Christmas décor plans:
- Nordmann Fir: Its got a lovely green color and has that traditional Christmas tree look. Branches and levels are more spaced out.
- Blue Spruce: It’s got a blue tinge to the needles that’s perfect for white décor. The tree is thick and bushy and has a traditional Christmas tree shape.
- Scots Pine: The branches are more compact and close together creating a smaller conical shape. Ideal for just adding a few lights in an outdoor space where you may not have a lot of space around your tree, like on a front porch.
- Dwarf Alberta Spruce: With the classic pointed top branch this potted Christmas tree is a great choice. It will only grow to roughly 8ft tall when fully grown, so it’s perfect to grow and care for so you can make a Christmas tradition around this tree.
- Norway Spruce: This is the traditional Christmas tree that prefers being grown outdoors rather than in as warm temperatures will make it drop it’s needles. It has the traditional shape and color you associate with a true Scandinavian Christmas tree.
Start small-ish
You want to start with a small-ish tree, no taller than four feet. Even though the big ones look tempting, moving a six-foot tree into position is hard work. Look for a tree that has a healthy root ball and isn’t cramped in its pot as it will be more likely to survive the colder months. If you’re picking one up at a garden center, look for roots that aren’t poking out of the soil or circling the pot. That’s usually a sign it’s already outgrowing its container and it won’t have had the best start.
What’s your outdoor climate like?
Consider how your local climate will affect a potted Christmas tree outside and your ability to look after it. Not all evergreens are made for very cold conditions, so check the variety and ask if you are buying form a specialist or in a garden center. A Nordmann Fir may be a good choice as it has a root system that is able to cope with temperatures as low as -8C. Some evergreen trees, like the Scots Pine, are just happier in milder conditions. Always be sure to check as choosing the right variety of tree for your climate will help to give it the best start.
Prepare Your Tree
Once you have the perfect tree and you have it home, a little prep can go a long way. By taking a little time to acclimatise your tree you give it the best start to life in your outdoor space at home.
Best Pot for your Outdoor Christmas tree.
The first step at home as you master how to look after your outside potted Christmas tree is getting the pot right. You might want to swap the plastic container your tree comes in so it can grow and looks better. You’ll want to choose something big enough to give the roots some breathing room but not so massive that it’s hard to move around. Go with a container that’s at least 2-4 inches wider than the tree’s root ball. And, make sure it has drainage holes. If you’re in a cold climate and experience freezing conditions during winter a plant pot filled with water will freeze. That’s not good for your potted Christmas tree.
Best soil for outdoor potted Christmas trees
Now, soil is another important first step in the care of your outside potted Christmas tree. Pick a soil that is slightly acidic and can retain moisture but isn’t so dense that water sits on top. Adding some garden bark mulch works well.
Getting your tree set-up outside
Once your tree’s settled in its new pot, don’t shock it with a sudden temperature change if it’s been inside in a garden centre. Let it get used to being outside gradually. Set it in a garage or shaded spot for a day or two before moving it into a more exposed spot outside if that is where you plan to keep it.
Once it’s outside, place it somewhere a bit protected from the wind. Windburn can mess up your tree’s needles pretty quick. Needles will start to brown if the wind keeps blowing at your Christmas tree. A semi-sheltered area works wonders for keeping those needles looking fresh.
How easy is it to look after an outdoor potted Christmas tree?
Learning how to look after a potted Christmas tree outside is fairly easy. With the right watering schedule, maintenance, protection from the elements, and set-up your Christmas tree will thrive. Watering needs to be done fairly regularly as Christmas trees have a large root system and you may want to consider feeding your tree. You can even repot your tree after Christmas so it grows long after the festive season.
Watering and Feeding Your Outdoor Potted Christmas Tree
Watering and feeding are the only frequent jobs you will need to do to care for your potted Christmas tree outside.
How to water an outdoor potted Christmas tree?
You water an outdoor potted Christmas tree with water from an outdoor rain butt if you have one. This is the best water for your Christmas tree. But plain tap water is fine if you don’t have an outdoor source to catch rain water. You water your tree from the top around the base of the tree directly into the soil.
How often to water your outdoor potted Christmas tree?
Too much water, and you risk root rot; too little, and it’ll dry up faster than you’d think dropping needles, especially in the cold. Never just randomly water, during the winter, check the soil once a week. You check the soil by pressing you finger an inch into the pot, if your finger comes out dry, it’s time for a drink, but don’t overdo it. You want to have damp, not waterlogged soil, Outdoor potted trees can dry out quickly, especially with wind exposure.
How to Feed your Outdoor Potted Christmas Tree
For feeding, less is definitely more. A small dose of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early winter works well. Avoid heavy fertilizers, though, because they can burn the roots, especially if they’re already stressed from the cold. If you feed too much the needles will turn yellow from too much nitrogen. Once during the festive season when you pot your tree will be enough usually and you can give some more fertiliser in early spring.
Protecting the Tree from Winter Elements
Winter can be brutal on a potted Christmas tree. If you’re in a region where the temperature regularly drops below freezing, it’s best not to display a sapling in an exposed space. Bring your potted Christmas tree closer to the house, placing it in a front porch or in a sheltered corner. Consider wrapping your tree’s pot in burlap and bubble wrap to help insulate it. Bubble wrap first, then burlap to keep the festive look. Adding a layer of mulch around the base too keeps the soil from drying out and adds a bit more insulation for those roots.
Trees can handle the cold, but potted trees are more vulnerable because the roots don’t have the earth’s insulation.
Pruning and Maintenance Tips for a Healthy Tree
Pruning isn’t just about looks, it’s also crucial for the health of your tree. Once the holiday season ends, trim away any branches that look weak or damaged. Keep the cuts small and avoid taking too much at once as over-pruning can stress your tree. If this happens sometimes they don’t ever truly recover.
Regularly inspect the branches for signs of pests or disease. Sometimes, you might spot a few bugs that have set up camp, especially if you live in a mild climate. A little spritz of mild insecticidal soap does the trick, but only if you catch it early.
What to do with Your Tree After the Holidays
After the holidays, it’s decision time: do you want to re-pot it and keep it as an outdoor fixture, or plant it in the ground? If you’re keeping it potted, plan to re-pot every couple of year in a slightly larger container with fresh soil. Avoid allowing the roots to get crowded or your tree can become pot bound. This stunts growth and you risk loosing your tree.
If you’re thinking about planting it in the ground, pick a sunny spot with well-draining soil, and give it some space to spread out. These trees can get big over time, so make sure you’re not planting it too close to the house or any structures. It’s always best to know what variety of Christmas tree you have so you can research how big they grow to and how far roots will spread if you decide to put it in the ground after Christmas
Also remember, it won’t be as easy to move once it’s in the ground, so choose the spot carefully.
Common Issues with Outdoor Potted Christmas Trees
If you notice your tree turning brown or losing needles, it might be struggling with water, stress, or root issues. Sometimes, it’s as simple as adjusting your watering routine or adding a bit of mulch. If the needles look yellow, it might be due to over-fertilizing.
Pests can also be an issue, but don’t panic. Look for any odd spots or tiny holes on the branches, and if you see any bugs, treat them gently with a natural insecticide. Outdoor trees are hardy, but they still need a bit of attention to thrive.
Conclusion
The joy of seeing your tree thrive through winter and maybe even become a yearly tradition is worth every step of learning how to look after a potted Christmas tree outside. Just remember to pay attention to its water needs, protect it from the harshest elements, and don’t forget about its roots.
