December not only brings colder weather and shorter daylight hours; for many of us it is the beginning of a joyful holiday season. The gardening tips for this month will focus on caring for some of our favorite things that are symbolic of the holidays.

Before you make the annual trek to the attic to haul down the artificial Christmas tree, let’s take a short trip down memory lane. Many of you have fond recollections of a brisk walk in the crisp outdoors in search of the perfect tree. Finding the right one, not too tall, not too short, not too skinny, and not too fat; loading it up and bringing it home. Over the years, this time honored tradition has taken a backseat to the color coded, perfectly sized and shaped, some assembly required, artificial tree. If the thought of your favorite ornaments hanging from real branches and the fragrant scent of evergreen throughout the room is doing battle with a little voice that says “Think of the environment”, rest easy! Real Christmas trees are a good environmental choice. These trees are grown in managed forest, where the growers carefully balance the need for wood and paper products with the requirements of the forest environment to thrive and replenish. When a Christmas tree is harvested in a managed forest, as many as three more are planted the following spring. This process guarantees a continuous supply of healthy new trees that are essential to keeping the air and water clean, preventing soil erosion and providing homes for a wide variety of wildlife. Go Green and bring home a real tree this holiday season.

Here are a few simple steps that will help you maintain that perfect tree, keeping it preserved and fresh throughout the holiday season. The first step is simple, make a straight cut, removing about one inch of the butt and immediately place the tree in water. The fresh cut improves water intake and rejuvenates the tree. Moisture is the primary requirement for a Christmas tree to stay beautiful. During the first week, a tree with a two-inch diameter needs approximately two quarts of water a day; a tree with a four-inch diameter trunk requires more than four quarts a day. An adequate supply of water prevents needles from drying out and branches from sagging and then becoming fragile and easily broken.

Before placing the tree in a stand, trim off any of the lower branches to ensure ease in securing the tree in the stand. The size of the Christmas tree will determine the size of the tree stand. The tree stand should be large enough and strong enough to safely support the tree you have chosen. A stand should hold a minimum of one-gallon of water and larger trees may need a stand with an even bigger reservoir. The water level in the stand should never go below the cut end of the trunk. If the water level is inadequate, the base of the tree will dry out, allowing resin to form over the cut end, effectively sealing off the water supply to the tree. If this should happen, the only remedy is a fresh cut, and that is difficult to impossible to accomplish with a fully decorated tree. Water should be replenished daily. On the average, a Christmas tree that is watered faithfully with plain tap water will stay fresh and fragrant up to four weeks.

Where you place your tree is also very important. The best environment for the Christmas tree is the area of your home with the lowest temperature and the highest humidity. Keep the tree away from heat sources as much as possible. Fireplaces, radiators, air ducts, a window that receives direct sunlight and even TV sets produce heat and cause the tree to absorb water at a higher rate.

When the holiday season is over and it time to take the tree down, there are several ways to be earth friendly and Go Green. Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they can be reused and recycled.

Remove all tinsel and ornaments from the tree. Move the tree to your back porch, patio area, backyard or garden for use by winter birds and other wildlife. Your discarded tree will provide cover and shelter from the cold. The tree can also serve as a food source for our fine feathered friends; decorate the branches with hanging fruit slices, suet bags and seed cakes.

A real Christmas tree is an excellent source of mulch. Chip the tree and use as mulch around trees, shrubs and flowerbeds. You can also prune off the branches and use the boughs to shelter small shrubs and perennials.

Recycled trees serve numerous environmental projects and are often used whole for beachfront erosion projects, shoreline stabilization and water and wildlife habitat stabilization. Check online or in your local newspapers for community treecycling programs. Many cities will accept your trees at curbside.

Flowering Christmas gift plants are a joy to give and receive. With the proper amount of TLC, they will thrive and provide beauty and color during the holidays. There are a few rules that apply to all indoor plants during the winter months.

Plants require less water during the winter and should not be fertilized. Ensure the plants have good drainage, and empty water from saucers an hour after watering.

Bright light is a requirement for plants with showy flowers and fruits. Extended period of time in a dark location is not a good idea.

Maintaining the right temperature is also important. Plants perform the best in a location where the temperature is fairly constant. Avoid drafts, heat ducts and areas near windows that might become chilly overnight. Keep in mind that most plants prefer cooler temperatures during the winter month.

The Poinsettia is probably the best recognized Christmas plant. This plant, with its gorgeous bracts of red, white or pink prefers bright, indirect light during the day (with temperatures not exceeding 70 degrees F), and a cool location (temperatures should not drop below 65 degrees F) at night. To prevent the leaves from yellowing and dropping off, keep the soil evenly moist. Water thoroughly when soil is almost dry and fertilize once a month with a water soluble houseplant fertilizer. With proper care, Poinsettias will live year round indoors and can be planted outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

The Christmas cactus makes a great gift and is a beautiful holiday decoration. Since this plant is native to Central and South America and originated in the rain forest, its needs are quite different than that of other members of the cacti family. Just keep in mind, the Christmas cactus is a tropical plant and not a desert cactus. Water the plants thoroughly and then allow about the top inch of soil to dry before watering again.

Follow these steps to achieve holiday blooms on your Christmas cactus.

• During the daylight hours, place the Christmas cactus in a spot that receives indoor indirect bright sunlight but is totally dark at night. The blooms last longer with cooler temperatures, so never place the plants near heaters, fireplaces or other heat sources. The ideal temperature for the Christmas cactus is 60-70 F. • The plants should be watered less often during the fall and winter months in order to get them to bloom. • Since the Christmas cactus is a tropical plant it requires about 50 to 60 percent humidity. Just fill a waterproof saucer with gravel, add water halfway up the gravel and place the pot on the gravel surface. Be sure to replenish the water as it evaporates. • The Christmas cactus that will flower best is the one that has been kept in a container that is pot-bound. If you want to repot a cactus, wait until February or March.