Choosing the Best Christmas Tree

Selecting the Christmas tree is a yearly ritual that many families will embark on. Some will go to a Christmas tree farm, and chop down their own, and others will go to lots of pre-cut trees to make their choice. Learning what to look for in a tree, from its suitability to the decorations and space it will fit in to how long it should last once put up, can help families make a better choice.

Types of Pine Trees Typically Used as Christmas Trees

There are several varieties of pine trees that typically show up on tree farms and lots for families to choose from. Each has something unique to offer, from size and shape to color and fragrance.

The balsam fir is one of the most popular styles of Christmas tree. Native to Northeastern America, the balsam fir has flat, dark green needles arranged spirally on each shoot and a smooth, gray trunk. Balsam firs are typically full, and have a rich, pine scent.

The Douglas fir is another style of pine tree popular as a Christmas tree. The needles are very soft and flat, and completely surround the branches, making a very full, bushy tree. Douglas firs can be blue-gray, green or green-gray in color, depending on its origin.

Blue spruce and white spruce trees work well for those who would like a slim Christmas tree, or one more sparsely branched. Both species of spruce trees produce needles which are blue green in color. The bark of both trees is thin and scaly and can flake off in thin circles.

Selecting the Tree

When selecting the tree, it’s important to take not only its style and characteristics into account, but how fresh it is as well. The tree should be able to last without drying out and dropping too many needles until approximately January 6th, which is the traditional day for taking down the Christmas tree.

Cutting down a tree at a tree farm is one way to ensure that the tree will be fresh enough to last. If that is not possible, try to find tree lots where the trees have not been cut down too early. Some trees were cut prior to Thanksgiving, and have been sitting on lots for weeks before they are sold. These trees will likely dry out before the holiday, making a mess of the living room.

When selecting the tree feel the needles for texture. They should feel rubbery and springy to the touch. Some trees, such as Douglas firs, have softer needles than others, so test a Douglas fir by bending the needles back; they should bend easily and not break in two.

Spruce trees, which have firmer needles, should feel full and dense to the touch, not dry and crisp. Check to be sure that each branch is full of needles; spots bare of branches can lend a tree character, branches bare of needles can be a sign of a dry tree.

To make sure that a tree will fit the space, be sure to measure the length of the branches from trunk to tip. This is especially helpful if the tree has been recently bound up, as it will relax in the warm air of the home, spreading itself out.

Caring for the Tree Once Home

Leave the tree in an entryway or garage for approximately 24 hours to help it settle before bringing the tree indoors. Keep the base of the tree stand well filled with water at all times, and tighten the tree stand again after the tree has been standing for a full day. Freshly cut trees in particular will shrink slightly after they have been standing, so frequent tightening over the first few days will be required to keep the tree straight in its stand.

For ease of cleanup, position a tree bag under the stand before putting up the tree. This will help catch spare needles, and will allow for easy removal of the tree once the holidays have past.

Consider the color of lights and ornaments when looking at the color of the tree. White lights work well on blue-green shades of trees, while colored lights work well with dark green trees. Sparsely branched trees work well with lots of ornaments, as it leaves plenty of room for them, while bushy, dense trees make the placement of ornaments more deliberate.

Whatever the style of tree chosen, be sure to purchase it fresh, keep it well watered, and enjoy its presence through the New Year.