How can I protect a pot grown Christmas tree when putting it outside?

Hi I'd appreciate your advice on how to protect my tree please. Its a nordemann about 5ft tall, been in a warm sitting room since early december & hoping to put it back outside this weekend when the temps rise a bit (in in the Midlands area). It's really getting in the way now!

This will be the 2nd year i had it & when i put it back outside last January i thought i'd killed it, but with TLC it did recover, i dont want the same to happen this yr so i waited for the temps to rise a bit, but even so it'll be a big drop from 20degrees to 5 at night!

Sadly i dont have a garage or anywhere i could gradually acclimatise it to the colder temps so it will have to go straight out. And I cant even bring it in at night for a few days either because I'm disabled & a friend is coming to lift it out for me, dont feel i can ask him to come more than once.

It will be in a sheltered spot next to the fence about 4ft from the house, so sheltered on 2 sides.

should i wrap it in horticultural fleece?

& what about the pot, how do i insulate that a bit? Not sure what to do for the best

I've done a fair amount of gardening but never dealt with anything that wasnt fully hardy so not used fleece before

any advice gratefully received

 

It sounds as if it will be in a sheltered spot, which was what I would suggest. If you have options where it can go, I would put it somewhere out of the wind and near to a house wall (if possible). They are hardy but as it’s been inside for such a long time covering it with a fleece may help with the transition. If you loosely threw it over so it covers the tree and pot, I would have thought that was enough.

I suspect you’ll always get some evidence of shock but hopefully not too dramatic.

 

@Lacewing
You do not say where (approximately) you are. Have a look here* at the forecast for your area. Down here in the Solent region, its milder from Thursday. Your tree likely will benefit from the rain, to rehydrate but do not be surprised by some needle drop, although the variety you have is less prone than others.
https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/
*

 

It is a fully hardy tree,but I agree it's going to feel the cold, ideally I would have put it outside directly after Christmas, the shorter time in the house the better.

Has it made any new growth just wondering if it thinks its spring already.
A sheltered spot near the house wall would be good.
Probably the biggest shock was when you brought it indoors before Christmas.

 

Thanks so much everyone

we're in the midlands (east). It also milder here from thursday but cant get it out until the weekend though, being disabled I'm restricted when the guy can come to lift it out for me

ahhh. I thought I was doing the right thing waiting. ah well you live & learn.

It's not put any new growth on though, fortunately.

It can go only go in 1 spot outside because of various non-movable obstacles & disability related restrictions that cant be changed.

It will have it's back to a 6ft fence which is at 90degrees to the house wall, but it's about 3-4ft away from the house.

So make like a loose covering? - secured under the pot & just laid around it/over the top? with a clothes peg or something to stop it blowing off?

Edited to add: having thought some more, i think I could perhaps put it in another spot which would be next to a house wall. However it is in deep shade there - very little light except first thing in the morning and will not be able to be moved again until april/may.

Do you think that would be better than the spot i mentioned earlier?

 

Also whats the best status for it hydration wise when it goes out? I've been watering it freely whilst its been indoors, but should i taper that off so it's a little drier when it goes out on saturday?

 

Yes loosely, tucking under the pot and a few pegs should secure it.

Yes tail off the watering so it’s just slightly damp to the touch.

For next year, I would delay bringing it in as long as possible and then get it out again as quickly as you can (practicalities allowing). Also, ideally wants to be somewhere cool when inside so away from any heaters/radiators.

 

Thank you

Yes its about 3mtrs away from the radiator - the furthest it could be & the cooolest spot inside.

Anyone got any comments on which of my 2 possible positions would be better for it?...

This one;

or this one

 

I would go for the first spot

 

Thank you for the advice everyone, much appreciated

 

LOL sorry to keep asking things, just wanting to give it the best chance...

The pot will be resting on gravel... would you advise putting anything underneath it to insulate it ?
Wondered about some extra fleece? or pot feet? or do you think it will be ok just sitting on the ground?

 

I think it would be OK on the ground, never understood this idea that cold comes up from the ground.

 

great thanks, you're probably right. I was only thinking of the shock of the cold ground after standing indoors on thick carpet, but happy to defer to your experience

 

I know some people suggest insulating pots from the ground, but its never made much sense to me bearing in mind the ground only freezes on the surface.

 

Fwiw I put mine in a plastic greenhouse with all my “delicates” and they all seem to be doing just fine so far …
The plastic greenhouses are pretty cheap .. I know they don’t last forever but they can be very useful