The Living Christmas Tree

One of the things I love most about gardening is how we can utilize a plant in our green spaces for more than just shade or color.  Over the years, I've watched people plant their live Christmas trees into the ground after the holiday season.  As the years pass by, their trees grew larger and larger.  Here in Tucson, we have several kinds of pines that will surprisingly do well. So I took their cue and planted my own Christmas tree into the ground in front of our dining room window where it also grew larger and larger each year.  Its' sole purpose was to act as our Holiday Tree.  The space in our home is limited so I had to look outdoors to capture that holiday magic.  By placing the tree outside the window, we were able to "extend" the holiday feel without compromising any room inside our home. 

Now I've placed several kinds of living Christmas trees into the ground with a very high success.  Tucson gardeners just need to make sure that these trees are watered during our hot summer months.  I chose the Leyland Cypress to create this magical space and it has done well.  It's a moderate grower making most of its new growth in spring like most plants.  It is now established and requires very little maintenance.  This year I placed solar lights on it and will be adding bird seed ornaments to it next year once it has established more height.   Several pine trees, like the Aleppo Pine, can grow quite large so be careful where you place your living Christmas trees.  Some trees produce shade.  Some trees produce fruit.  And some are used for seasonal purposes.  Consider using a living Christmas tree in your own garden.  OR check out this cool Agave stalk idea!

 Sorry about the less than stellar photos.  These were the best that turned out, but at least you can get an idea on how to set something like this up.

So going green really means "Going Green".  A living tree that will serve holiday needs using solar lights from our intense sun and bird seed ornaments.  It doesn't get greener than that:) More tomorrow....

A video from last year....Luminaria Nights at the Botanical Gardens

Leyland Cypress

My first feature is the Leyland Cypress.  I do love this Christmas tree and have planted two in the landscape.  They seem to do well in sun or in part shade.  They do get large and are moderate growers for me at about a foot a year.  They are both located on the Southern exposure.  What I like about this particular plant is that it is evergreen all year round and does not lose its leaves.  The more sun it gets; the better the tree will look.  This tree in Tucson doesn't seem to mind the clay soil nor does it get dried ends at the tips.  You can give it water without fear of overwatering and killing the plant.  For me it gets a weekly watering on the grounds and is easy to grow. As with other plants of this category, you can sometimes overwater and kill the entire plant. Here are the facts.

This tree makes a lovely addition at the El Presidio Garden.

* Grows up to 3-4 ft. per year and again, this may vary depending on your soil
* Drought tolerant
* Feathery soft texture

Leylands are the most popular privacy tree. They grow very fast and thicken to create a solid wall.
Its feathery texture is soft to the touch. Stays green all year-round, giving you complete privacy.

They....

* Have established root systems that quickly adapt to soil and climate
* Mature to a majestic pyramidal form
* Thrive in Growing Zones 6-10
* Demonstrate tolerance to drought
*  Mature Height: 60-70 ft. 20-30 ft. in rows

*  Mature Width: 15-20 ft. 5-10 ft. in rows
Grows rapidly for some but here I've observed that it grows moderately. Easily pruned to your desired height and shape. Even without trimming, the Leyland Cypress trees will grow in a uniform, symmetrical shape that gives a dense, living wall. Fast growers, adaptable to a variety of soils and conditions, even sandy and clay.  Space Leylands 6 ft. apart for a privacy hedge or further apart for a spacious property border.  I do like this tree and it adds a little variety to the landscape.  Until tomorrow.....