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Re-plantable Xmas TreesIt takes about 10 years for a Christmas tree to reach maturity, and it’s a shame to kill a tree just so it can prop up ornaments and lights for a couple of weeks. Even though many cities do an admirable job of recycling trees (or ‘treecycling’) after the holidays are over, it’s always a bit depressing to see hundreds of dried-up, tinsel-covered trees out on the curb in early January. So instead of heading out to a tree farm, you might consider bringing a live, potted tree into your home this winter. After the holidays are over, you can plant the tree in the ground again (or you can get someone else to plant it), so it can get back to sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere.1
Replant Xmas TreeIt takes about 10 years for a Christmas tree to reach maturity, and it’s a shame to kill a tree just so it can prop up ornaments and lights for a couple of weeks. Even though many cities do an admirable job of recycling trees (or ‘treecycling’) after the holidays are over, it’s always a bit depressing to see hundreds of dried-up, tinsel-covered trees out on the curb in early January. So instead of heading out to a tree farm, you might consider bringing a live, potted tree into your home this winter. After the holidays are over, you can plant the tree in the ground again (or you can get someone else to plant it), so it can get back to sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere.2
How to choose a living treeIt takes about 10 years for a Christmas tree to reach maturity, and it’s a shame to kill a tree just so it can prop up ornaments and lights for a couple of weeks. Even though many cities do an admirable job of recycling trees (or ‘treecycling’) after the holidays are over, it’s always a bit depressing to see hundreds of dried-up, tinsel-covered trees out on the curb in early January. So instead of heading out to a tree farm, you might consider bringing a live, potted tree into your home this winter. After the holidays are over, you can plant the tree in the ground again (or you can get someone else to plant it), so it can get back to sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere.3
Potted Christmas trees in a nurseryNurseries in most parts of the country sell young pines and fir trees, and the best way to find a tree is to call around to local nurseries and ask what’s in stock. Photo: Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33037982@N04/4086830060/in/photostream/">wallygrom</a>4
Christmas Tree Farm in OregonBut if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of finding a home for your tree after the holidays are over, a tree rental service might be a better option Photo: Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/6253249096/sizes/z/in/photostream/">Wonderlane</a>5
Friends of the Urban Forest Christmas TreesWhen selecting a living Christmas tree, it’s important to choose one that grows naturally in your region so that once it’s replanted it will survive — hopefully — for many years to come. Photo: <a href="http://www.sfenvironment.com/greenchristmas/">Friends of the Urban Forest and SF Environment</a>6
Living Pine TreeTo ensure that the tree remains hearty enough to survive outside, don't keep the tree indoors for more than a couple of weeks. Photo: Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jowo/5286248581/">joeldinda</a>7
Potted Christmas trees in San JoseAfter the holidays are over you can donate the tree to a local parks department, church or school, or you can keep it an plant it yourself. If you rent a tree, the rental service will come a pick it up after Christmas. Photo: Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourcityforest/4346098029/">Our City Forest</a>8
Living Christmas Tree on Main StreetIf you live in a very cold area, you might have to keep the tree in a pot for a couple of months before you can plant it in the ground again.9
