Planting your Living Christmas Tree

When it comes time to plant your tree you will notice all of Camino Garden Center's Christmas trees are planted in ball and burlap.  This simply means the tree was field grown then dug from the ground when it was old enough.  Keep the burlap on your plant's root ball to prevent transplant shock.  Simply place the root ball in the ground with the neck of the tree slightly raised to prevent rot.  Cut the strings and burlap away from the neck of the tree and bury with the root ball.  Make sure to water your newly planted tree. 

Living Christmas Tree Care

Spruce and Fir trees are outdoor tree and do best in that environment.  When bringing a living outdoor plant inside there are a few things you can do to ensure the health of your tree.  First transition your tree to the garage or covered porch before bringing it indoors.  Make sure to repeat this procedure when moving the tree back outside.  Never leave your tree indoors for more than two weeks.  And always provide plenty of water for your tree.  You keep your house much warmer and drier than your plant wants so make sure to water your tree.  Camino Garden Center suggests placing a tray of ice cubes in the pot everyday.  This will keep your tree hydrated and the roots cool without spilling water all over the floor.

Fall Pond Cleaning

It’s time to clean the leaves out of your pond. Heavy winds and rain have washed organic material into your pond. That organic material needs to be dealt with to ensure the health of your pond environment. Leaves and Pine needles in small amount don’t harm your pond but in large quantities it can deter clarity, change PH, and overwhelm the natural balance of your pond. If you have no fish or aquatic plants then you can drain your pond clean out the leaves and cover your pond for the winter. If you have plants and fish in your pond this usually is not an option. I like to use a rake to clean leaves and needles out of my ponds. This will get the majority of your organic material out, but you really need to get down on you knees to get the last of the material out. In large ponds you may need to get into the pond to do a proper cleaning. After you have your pond clean, try covering your pond with bird netting, this will reduce the amount of future leaves and needles that end up in your pond. Every once in a while pull the leaf-laden netting off your pond and dump the leaves into a compost bin or trash. Remember to replace the netting on your pond to keep those leaves out.

Cold Winter Winds

With winter approaching one thing is certain, we are just beginning to see the wind pick up and blow our plants over. Now is the time to stake your tender trees and shrubs. Loosely staking your plants will allow them to move a little strengthening their roots, but protecting them from the heavy winds that can pull them out of the ground.

Don’t forget to water when the winds start to blow. A cold dry wind dries out more than your skin. Wind will rob your plants of water faster than a hot day. If you know the wind is coming water your plants, this will keep them hydrated and protect them from some of the cold temperatures. The water acts like a barrier keeping the cold air from directly touching your plants, thus keeping them a degree or two warmer. This works well for short freezes a couple degrees colder than your plant can handle.

Covering your plants with a lightweight breathable fabric like Gardeneer’s Harvest-Guard will help protect tender and young plants from cold weather.

Features:

This floating row cover traps heat and moisture to produce bigger, better and earlier crop yieldsProtects against frost, insects and birdsEasy to use - "floats" over crops without support

Item #/Size:

# HG-25: 5'x25'

# HG-50: 5'x50'

Usage ideas: Vegetable gardens, strawberry rows, can also use on newly-sown grass