Choosing a Real Christmas Tree

Choosing a Christmas tree is a great family adventure. Many families still go out every year and purchase a cut tree instead of going down in the basement or attic and pulling out the artificial one. There are some pros and some cons to using a cut tree. The pros are the fun in choosing the tree and the fragrance that the tree produces during the season. The cons are obvious; dropping needles, watering the tree sometimes 2 times a day, and the final clean up. Still many families prefer real trees.

Real trees will last about 3 to 4 weeks if care is taken with them. There are many different kinds of trees but the most popular are as follows:

• Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, or Douglas Fir – all are similar in shape and size and have a dark green silvery cast and short needles that are long lasting. They are fragrant trees that offer that clean, pine smell in the house.
• Scotch Pines are very popular probably because their branches are so stiff and rigid. If you have heavy ornaments this is the tree for you. The needles are dark green and hold on to the tree for more than 4 weeks and don’t even drop much when they dry. This tree is very fragrant.
• Douglas Fir has dark green to blue needles that hold well. It is also fragrant.
• White Pines have bluish green needles and are very full. This tree has no fragrance so it is good for people with allergies. White Pines are a little hard to find at this time since they have contracted a disease that has wiped out many groves.
• White or Tri colored Fir have green to blue needles ½ to 1 – ½ inch long. The needles stay on the tree well.

It is best to go to a tree farm and pick out your tree. Then you can cut it down or have someone at the farm cut it. You know your tree is fresh. If you go to a place that sells already cut trees always check for freshness. The needles should be shiny and green with no brown. Pull a branch and make sure that most of the needles stay on the branch. If the majority or even half of them fall off – the tree is not fresh. Check the branches by slightly bending them up or down. If they are not brittle but are flexible it is a good tree.

When you get your tree home always cut off ½ inch of the trunk or more. Set it in a pail of water in a cool area out of the sun if you don’t plan on setting it up right away. If you have people in your household with airborne allergies to pines, give your tree a shower and wash it down. It will help. Another hint – put your tree in the tree stand before you bring it in the house. It will be much easier. It is also advisable that you know what is the maximum diameter tree trunk your stand will hold. That way you won’t have to travel all over town looking for another stand if your tree is too big. One rule to remember is that the bigger the tree – the bigger the stand. Don’t expect to put a 7 foot tree in a tiny weenie little stand.

Always waterproof your floor where you plan to place the tree. Put down tarp or plastic then hide it with a tree skirt. This will save your carpeting or hard wood floor. Always place your tree away from heat sources. Most trees will drop needles if they get too warm and will not be a fire hazard if placed away from fireplaces, radiators, or heating vents.

Your tree will require lots of water for the first 3 days inside the house. You may have to check it 2 to 3 times a day during that time. It may drink up to 2 gallons a day. Always keep it hydrated as that will prevent needle loss and make it last longer. You can make a concoction that will help the tree retain its needles longer. Combine 1 gallon water, ½ cup light corn syrup, and 1 teaspoon liquid bleach and pour it in when you first bring it in the house. You can add this solution once per week but if you are only leaving the tree up 3 to 4 weeks, one application should do.

Decorating your tree is a very enjoyable family activity. To find the amount of lights needed for the tree multiply the tree’s height by its width by 3. Mini lights are height times width times 6. Start decorating your tree with the lights placing them close to the base first then coming out toward the ends of the branches. The next thing to put on the tree is the garland, then the ornaments. Place ornaments inside near the trunk first and work your way out again.

Most people put the topper on at the end, but you may find it easier to do it at the beginning. That way you don’t knock ornaments off when you have to get close to the tree to reach the top and you may not have to grab a ladder to climb up to put the star on the tree.

With care your real Christmas tree should last the whole season long giving your family and friends joy for Christmas and the New Year.

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