Nothing says Christmas like a beautiful tree as the centerpiece of a room aglow with bright lights and colorful décor. And, no tree is more beautiful or more meaningful than a living tree that you will replant after the holidays.

A living Christmas tree is purchased for indoor enjoyment for a week or so during the holidays and is then moved outdoors as a landscape tree when the holidays are over. Purchasing a living tree and successfully establishing it in the landscape can make holiday memories live on as the tree grows each year.

The care of a living tree is a little different than one you buy from a lot or cut yourself on a tree farm. A living tree should not be kept indoors for longer than seven-to-ten days, for the indoor environment is too warm and dry for the tree to thrive. Therefore, you should purchase your tree and keep it outdoors until it is ready to come inside. If the weather is particularly cold, you may move the tree into an unheated garage to allow it to "thaw out" prior to moving indoors.

Once inside, keep the tree away from heat vents (or close the vents), and away from any other heat source, like a wood stove. Trees like humidity, so putting a pot of water on the stove occasionally to increase indoor humidity is helpful. Misting the tree will also help mimic the outdoor conditions the tree is used to.

For decorating, use small lights as they emanate less heat. The new LED lights are even better, as they radiate less heat than the older incandescent bulbs, which can burn the the tree's foliage. You are also advised to put plastic saucers or plastic garbage sacks around the base of the tree, as the soil needs to be kept moist (but not soggy) and you are likely to have some runoff.

After the holidays, take the tree back outside until you are ready to plant it. If it is particularly cold, keeping the tree in the garage for a few days will help with the transition. If the pot holding the tree is large enough, you can keep it there for several years before planting it, provided you water and fertilize it regularly. Once the tree is ready to be planted, place it in a location with lots of sun, good drainage and plenty of room to spread its branches.

A living Christmas tree provides many benefits, not only to you, but to the environment. A living tree will smell fresher and remain fresh while it is inside. They are less flammable than an artificial tree or a cut tree. They are eco-friendly, because as a living plant, they help improve air quality. It will also not need to be sent to a landfill like an artificial tree.

Reasons to Plant a Living Tree:

• Mark a special event: first Christmas together, first child, first grandchild
• Save a tree's life - Go green!
• Start a family tradition
• Add to a new or existing landscape

Make your holidays extra special this year and start your own tradition by purchasing and planting a living Christmas tree.