Grow Your Own Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree

Planting Advice:

• Select an appropriate pot, 15-20cm (6-8in) and use a soil based, ericaceous compost and add some sand or grit to aid drainage. You may wish to add mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting.
• Aim to plant at the same depth as the soil mark on the trunk.
• Holding the tree upright in position with one hand, slowly backfill the pot with soil, and gently shake the plant, so the soil falls back around the roots.
• Use your palm to compact the soil around the plant to ensure good contact around the roots.
• If growing outside, plant in moist but well-drained acidic soil in sun or partial shade. Provide shelter from cold drying winds.
• Select an appropriate spot for your plant, making sure that you give it enough space to grow to its full size.
• Dig a planting hole 3 x wider than the roots and mix some well-rotted compost or manure with the soil from the hole and use this to re-fill once the plant is in place. If your soil is very alkaline, add in some ericaceous compost.
• Before planting soak your tree in water for a couple of hours then allow to drain.
• Add Mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting to help plants establish quicker, then place your plant in the hole, aiming to plant at the same depth as the soil mark on the trunk.
• Refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling) and firm in the soil with your palm avoiding the root ball.
• Water well and mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc.

 Aftercare Advice:

• Keep plants well-watered while they establish, especially if planted up in a pot.
• Saplings need room to spread out as they mature, so repot them into 2-5cm (1-2in) larger pots each year.
  Remove any weeds and keep well mulched.
• Easy to keep, no pruning is needed.
• Any damaged branches can be removed if necessary, in late spring-early summer.