Our Hudson, Michigan Home to Your Home

1. Before Bringing Your Tree Indoors

Keep the tree in an unheated garage or barn for 2–3 days to ease the temperature transition. Keep the root ball slightly moist, not waterlogged, and protect the pot from freezing solid.

2. Indoor Display

Limit indoor display to 7–10 days, preferably less. Keep away from fireplaces, heat vents, and direct heat. Set the pot in a watertight container, check soil moisture frequently, and use cool LED lights.

3. Decorative Burlap

The burlap around your pot is decorative. After Christmas, remove burlap from around the trunk and soil surface to avoid trapped moisture. Remove all burlap and the pot before planting.

4. Transition Back Outdoors

Move the tree back to a cool, sheltered, unheated location for about 3–5 days before exposing it to outdoor conditions. Protect it from drying winds and intense sun; keep soil lightly moist.

5. Choosing a Planting Site

Choose a well-drained site with appropriate sunlight (many firs and spruces do best with at least six hours). Allow room for the mature tree; spacing depends on the variety and its eventual size.

6. Planting

When soil is workable, remove the pot and all decorative burlap. Dig a hole roughly twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than its height. Set the root flare at or slightly above grade, backfill with native soil, and water thoroughly. Avoid fertilizer at planting.

7. Watering

Check root-ball moisture regularly. Water during thawed periods when soil is dry and continue consistent, deep watering during the first growing seasons, adjusting for rainfall and drainage.

8. Winter Protection

Apply 2–3 inches of mulch without touching the trunk, protect from deer, and avoid road salt. If the ground is frozen, keep the tree sheltered outdoors in its pot and protect the roots from extreme cold until planting is possible.

9. Spring & Summer

Maintain a weed-free area around the tree, watch its top leader, and monitor for moisture stress. Fertilize only if needed, ideally based on soil conditions.

Thank you for choosing a living Christmas tree from our farm. We hope it brings enjoyment for years to come.

More Tree Care Guidance Print Care Guide

Michigan Grown. Michigan Tested.

At Hoye's Tree Farm & Nursery, LLC, we take pride in growing trees prepared for Michigan's changing seasons. Most of our trees have grown here on our Hudson farm for two or more years, beginning as seedlings or young transplants. They've experienced Michigan winters, summers, and everything in between.

Our stock is not simply shipped in from other states for resale. We spend time raising and caring for our trees here at the farm before they find a new home in your landscape.

Grown With Care. Shared With Pride.

From our Hudson, Michigan home to your home, we hope you'll enjoy your trees for years to come. Their next chapter begins with good planting and care at your property.

Water consistently, but don't leave roots sitting in water. As we like to say, our trees love a good drink, but they don't like to swim! Choose suitable, well-drained soil, the right amount of sunlight, and enough space for mature growth.

Planting & Getting Established

• Choose a location suited to your tree's mature size, sunlight needs, and soil drainage.
• Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper than the root ball. Keep the root flare at or slightly above the surrounding soil grade.
• Remove the nursery pot and decorative wrapping before planting. Loosen or correct circling roots as appropriate, and backfill primarily with native soil.
• Water thoroughly after planting and check moisture near the root ball regularly during the first growing seasons. Water deeply when needed, but do not leave soil saturated.
• Apply 2–3 inches of mulch around the tree, keeping mulch away from the trunk.
• Avoid routine fertilizer at planting unless a soil test or site-specific need indicates otherwise.

Know Your Tree

Fir and spruce generally prefer good drainage and adequate sunlight; individual varieties differ. Arborvitae need reliable moisture while establishing, especially before winter. Review the variety information on our Our Trees page and ask us about the tree you select.

What to Expect

Newly planted trees may show temporary stress while roots establish. Watch for persistent wilting, extensive browning, poor drainage, or signs of insects and disease. Changes in color can have several causes, so contact us with questions and photos when possible.

Tree Care & Warranty Policy

At Hoye's Tree Farm & Nursery, LLC, we take pride in the time and care invested in growing our trees. Once a tree leaves our farm, its continued health and survival depend on proper planting, soil, drainage, sunlight, watering, weather, and ongoing maintenance. Because these conditions are beyond our control, Hoye's Tree Farm & Nursery, LLC does not provide a warranty or guarantee of survival on trees purchased from our farm. All trees are sold without a survival warranty. We encourage customers to follow our planting and care guidance and contact us with questions.

Farm Visits by Appointment Only

We're a working family tree farm in Hudson, Michigan. Please call or message us to arrange a visit so we can be available to help with your tree selection. Our seasonal self-serve wagons operate separately from scheduled farm visits.

Wear shoes suitable for grass and uneven ground. Tree availability changes by season, size, and variety. Children must be supervised; please stay in customer areas and away from equipment.

Tree Pickup & Safe Transportation

Before leaving, please verify the quantity and types of trees in your purchase. Bring an appropriately sized vehicle or trailer and suitable tie-downs. Customers are responsible for loading, arranging, inspecting, and securing their trees for transport.

Hoye's Tree Farm & Nursery, LLC does not secure loads for customer pickup orders. When we provide delivery ourselves, we secure trees for transport in our delivery vehicle.

Purchasing & Planting

Please review our tree care guidelines before planting. Trees are sold without a survival warranty because planting methods, watering, soil, drainage, and ongoing care affect their health after purchase.