In warmer climates, it's easy to liven up your holiday decor by literally adding life to it with a Mondale Pine Tree. Known for quick growth and the ability to survive conditions of little rain once it's established, it makes a great landscaping choice, in groups or individually, for climates on the mild and dry side. The Mondale Pine Tree is a native of Afghanistan, where the soil is alkaline due to the high lime content of the region. That makes it unusual among evergreens, which generally relish acidic ground.
Best of all, as long as you live within the growing zones 6 to 10, it can assume a permanent presence in your garden, and year after year it will generate beautiful pine cones that are perfect for decorating--and besides, pine cones are the symbol of fertility!
The Mondale Pine can grow as much as 6 feet per year to a maximum of 40 feet tall, so choose its permanent site with that in mind. If you make an annual tradition of purchasing a live Mondale for your holiday tree, you will eventually have your own forest in your yard. Be creative and use them to for a unique property border. The Mondale Pine Tree is a great gift. Considering its rapid growth, you will see your gift whenever you visit the lucky recipient's garden.
This is a most unique tree and one you will not see very often. A rare, but beautiful tree, one that will flourish in warmer climates.
Here are a few points on caring for your Mondale Pine:
- Minimize the potted tree's time indoors (keep outside on a porch, for instance, and move inside for no more than a two week stretch).
- While it's indoors for the holidays keep it away from direct heat and windows with midday exposure.
- Water until you see a little bit trickle into the drip tray; let the surface dry between watering.
- When the holiday season winds down choose a well-drained planting location that will accommodate the tree when fully grown (approximately 40 feet tall by 25 ft wide).
- Dig a hole three times larger than the root ball and fill it with water. In the case of the Mondale Pine, there's no need to add compost or other soil treatment.
- Replace soil and tamp well, then water generously and cover with several inches of low-acid mulch.
- During the first growing season, make sure it receives at least 5 gallons of water per week.
Your Mondale Pine Tree should be well established in the garden by next holiday season.
