Nurture Your Tree
Looking after your Potted Christmas tree is imperative to its growth and longevity. Follow Mary's easy guide below to keep your tree looking beautiful and healthy all year round.
Take me outdoors
I can't be inside for longer than 3 weeks. Take me outdoors or plant me in the garden, pot and all.
Water me
I need 1 - 2L of water daily, your best guide is to check my saucer.
Feed me
Top feed me with 'outdoor slow-release pot food' in April and October.
Prune me
Prune me in the autumn to help maintain my shape.
Fertilising
Mary recommends using a pelleted, slow-release fertiliser. Look for the one formulated for use in potted plants with a 5-6 month slow-release. Feed twice a year in April and October and distribute the pellets evenly on the soil around the tree's trunk. Every time the tree is watered, the pellets release a tiny amount of fertiliser.
Repotting
Spring is the ideal time to repot your tree, as it’s when your tree experiences its biggest growth spurt of the year. Medium and tall-growing Christmas trees will benefit most from being “potted on.” Smaller-growing trees can stay in the same pot unless you’d like them to grow taller and bushier. Your tree arrives in a 25L pot, so when repotting, choose a pot that’s at least 45L in size.
How to repot your tree:
- Gently remove the tree from its pot by tapping the sides with a hammer if needed.
2. Lay the tree on its side and, using a sharp knife, trim approximately 5cm off the bottom of the root ball. This releases the girdling roots and encourages healthy new growth into the fresh soil.
3. Place the tree in its new pot and half-fill with quality potting mix.
4. Sprinkle one tablespoon of pelletised “fertiliser for pots” over the mix.
5. Fill the rest of the pot with potting soil and water well to help the roots settle in.
With the right care, your living Christmas tree will continue to thrive and grow with you year after year.