OPTION 1: Bring the whole family to choose a pre-cut tree
Wander and Make Memories as You Search for the Tree Your Whole Family Adores
Whether you are young or old, the tradition of picking out a Christmas tree fills our hearts with anticipation of the season to come. Bring the family and take your time as you wander the cut tree lot to find the one that makes your hearts happy. These beautifully shaped, aromatic trees are locally sourced and ready to take that special place in your home as you celebrate the holiday season. Please check the current hours on Facebook or this website before coming, as we are open for limited days during our 12 Days of Christmas extravaganza each year!
Aren't you ready for an afternoon of making memories? Visit our Events page to learn more about our hot cocoa bar, sleigh rides, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday workshops, and more. Come for the trees. Stay for the experience.
OPTION 2: Choose a Living Christmas Tree to plant later
Celebrate the Joy of Your Living Christmas Tree for Years to Come
How would your landscape and life be different if each year, you picked out a living Christmas tree you could later plant in the spring? How magical would it be to have the joy of the season live on for decades to come? We can help you find the perfect tree and give you the tools to care for it (see directions below). Decorate it, enjoy it, and after the holiday season ends, it can then become a permanent part of your landscape and life. You can purchase and tag a living tree prior to our Christmas event. Please visit the Hours tab on the website or see Facebook for our seasonal hours.
We hope you join us for our hot cocoa bar, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday workshops and more during our 12 Days of Christmas extravaganza.
Tips for success with your living christmas tree
Cool + Watered + Short time inside = SUCCESS
The best strategy for keeping your living Christmas tree alive and well is to keep it cool and well-watered and to limit the amount of time it spends indoors. It is a little more work than a pre-cut tree, but the benefits will last for years to come. Here's how to help ensure your Christmas tree will be around next year.
Buy Early
Visit the nursery early to tag your tree and we will hold it for you until the end of our Christmas event. We won't be bringing in new stock this late in the season, so visit early for the best selection. Please check the website for hours as our seasonal hours vary between September and December.
Put the tree in a transition zone
Two weeks before Christmas, put the tree in a garage for about a week to allow for acclimation to an indoor environment. Keep it watered, but don't overdo it. Consider how to allow for the tree to be watered without getting water/soil on your floor. Depending on the size of the pot or ball, you might consider anything from a bar pan to a tiny kiddie swimming pool. Ask us for help if you are unsure what to do.
Move your tree
A few days before Christmas, move the tree to a spot with filtered light, but well away from drafts and heater vents; a cool location is best. Be sure it gets all the water it needs. Soak the root ball so that the soil around the roots is moist, but you don't want roots drowning, either. If you have placed a root ball in a tub, keep an inch or two of water in the bottom of the tub.
Limit the size of your bulbs
Christmas lights don't pose a serious threat to plants. Depending on the types of lights and how you use them, however, they can cause some minor damage. Large bulbs can create enough heat to actually burn leaf surfaces, so use only light strands that come with tiny bulbs. LED lights are best as they won't give off heat that could further dry out your tree.
Limit time inside
A few days after Christmas, put the tree back in the garage. No matter what, don't leave the tree inside the house for more than a week to 10 days.
Time to plant
Since we live in a very cold climate, you will need to leave the tree in your garage over the remainder of the winter. Make sure potted trees are in pots large enough to provide some insulation from the cold, and keep them watered well and away from direct sunlight. Once the ground has thawed, dig a hole 2-3x larger than the root ball and about 1.5x deeper. Gently spread out some of the roots and place the tree in the hold. Blend a bag of Happy Frog Soil Conditioner in with the original soil and tamp down soil to prevent air bubbles by the roots. Topdress with mulch to help hold in moisture, and set up a regular watering schedule in your planner for the entire first year all the way through the first hard frost in November. Evergreens need regular, deep waterings that first year, and especially headed into winter.
Second Nature at Reads Creek, Readstown, WI
Your Next Driftless Day Trip...
Second Nature at Reads Creek is a destination nursery, greenhouse, gift shop and landscape design center. Set in the rural Driftless region of Southwestern Wisconsin, the nursery is nestled in a verdant valley along a meandering Class A trout stream just 7 miles south of Viroqua. Take a virtual tour of this breathtaking property as you peruse our website with a cup of coffee, and then take a drive and experience it in person. Once you have visited, you will understand why people drive from hours away to experience the tranquility of our valley, and return year after year for our high-quality plants and landscaping services.
