Curtis, Robert; Carey, Andrew (1996). Timber Supply in the Pacific Northwest (PDF). USDA Forest Service. Yes, with proper care, live Douglas Fir trees can be replanted outdoors, extending their lifespan and environmental impact. If you’re buying a tree that can be replanted later, remember that a tiny percentage of these trees survive after being indoors in the winter. To give them the best chance of survival, only keep a live tree in your house for a MAXIMUM of one week. The heat and dry air in a home can really take a toll on a living pinetree.

The Douglas Fir's needles, arranged in spirals along the branches, are soft to the touch and emit a distinct citrus-like fragrance when crushed. This aromatic quality, coupled with the tree's striking appearance, makes it an ideal choice for Christmas decorations, wreaths, and garlands, infusing homes with the spirit of the season. Additionally, the Douglas Fir's dense foliage provides nesting and shelter for wildlife. Your tree can also make an excellent base for your compost pile. Don’t include the needles for the best results, which can slow down the disintegration process.

Where to find Douglas fir

Tree type: As noted, artificial Christmas trees have come a long way in recent years to look more realistic. You can opt for a tree that mimics a fir (dense), spruce (sharp points) or pine (sparser with thin needles). USDA, NRCS (n.d.). " Pseudotsuga menziesii". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team . Retrieved 2018-11-07.

The leaves are flat, soft, linear needles 3⁄ 4– 1 + 1⁄ 2in) long, generally resembling those of the firs, occurring singly rather than in fascicles; they completely encircle the branches, which can be useful in recognizing the species. As the trees grow taller in denser forest, they lose their lower branches, such that the foliage may start as high as 34m (110ft) off the ground. [17] Douglas-firs in environments with more light may have branches much closer to the ground. Freshly cut Christmas trees are farmed specifically for their purpose and to support localagriculture. Firs are some of the most successful commercial Christmas trees sold today. The popularity of firs is due to their fragrant scent, beautiful colors and ability to retain their needles. Most fir species tend to grow best in cooler climates or in areas of higher elevation with the Douglas and Concolor firs able to handle slightly warmer conditions. Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii, the coast Douglas-fir, grows in the coastal regions from west-central British Columbia southward to central California. In Oregon and Washington, its range is continuous from the eastern edge of the Cascades west to the Pacific Coast Ranges and Pacific Ocean. In California, it is found in the Klamath and California Coast Ranges as far south as the Santa Lucia Range, with a small stand as far south as the Purisima Hills in Santa Barbara County. [27] [28] One of the last remaining old growth stands of conifers is in the Mattole Watershed, and is under threat of logging. [29] [30] In the Sierra Nevada, it ranges as far south as the Yosemite region. It occurs from sea level along the coast to elevations of 1,500m (4,900ft) or higher, and inland in some cases up to 2,100m (6,900ft). [13] Many different Native American groups used the bark, resin, and needles to make herbal treatments for various diseases. [38] British Columbia's Bella Coola tribe mixed the resin with dogfish oil for many medicinal applications. [13] Some tribes used the foliage as a hygienic freshener in sweat baths, and the leaves were used as a coffee substitute. [13] Native Hawaiians built waʻa kaulua ( double-hulled canoes) from coast Douglas-fir logs that had drifted ashore. [39] The wood has historically been favored as firewood, especially from the coastal variety. [13] In addition early settlers used Douglas fir for all forms of building construction, including floors, beams, and fine carving. Even today much of the Northwest chain saw art is completed on Douglas fir logs. [ citation needed] The structures built from fir have lasted 150 years and more. [ citation needed]

Sometimes, we’re asked about replanting a live tree. First, you can only replant trees that came with a living root ball (that hasn’t been cut or damaged). Second, the tree can’t be dried out; most Christmas trees will only last about a week (at the most) indoors in a heated home. But if you kept the tree in a cool area or near a window, it could be worth atry.