Here we are at Christmas again and I’ve been getting all the usual questions about what is the best Christmas tree to have in the house. Predictably, I am not an advocate for artificial or plastic Christmas trees. Whether you go for a cut, natural tree that you get from the roadside or a friend’s property or that you buy from a local club or charity group-or you use a live potted tree-or even a tree growing in your garden; I reckon these real tree options are far better.
The naturalness, the fragrance and the feel of a natural, live tree for Christmas is obvious to us all. Recent research as part of a national Plant Life Balance project (see www.plantlifebalance.com.au) has compiled research from around the world which has proven that live plants in your house or office remove air borne toxins and pollutants and create a more relaxing, positive feeling. Research has shown that one potted, live plant in a normal house room can improve air quality by about 25%.
So, for your Christmas tree, go for an Alberta spruce or Juniper Spartan or Deodar cedar or even a native Australian Wollemi pine. All of these are tough, relatively slow growing and can be kept in a pot for a few years and brought inside for Christmas for a few weeks. Pot them up into a bigger pot after a few years or plant them out in the garden and start again with a new one!
I hope all gardeners across our beautiful region have a happy, safe Christmas and that we get some rain to keep the gardens fresh and vibrant. Whether they are in your garden or in a pot in the house, plants contribute positively to our environment and to our health.
Ian Rogan
Millthorpe Garden Nursery