How to Pick The Best Fresh Christmas Tree
What makes the “best” Christmas tree? Having sold fresh cut Christmas trees for many years, I can attest to the old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In truth, your best fresh Christmas tree may look vastly different than someone else’s. Size, shape, branch density, needle length, color and fragrance are some of the personal preferences that will play into the final decision. For many of us, there is a specific tree species that just “smells like Christmas,” because we grew up with that type.
Popular Types of Christmas Trees
Each tree species has certain characteristics that have made it popular. Whether it’s the rigidity of the branch tips, how well it retains its needles or a striking …show more content…
It’s needles are ½ to 1 inch long, dark green above and blue-green beneath. Needle retention is excellent and the scent is pleasantly sweet and slightly pungent.
Douglas fir is grown and shipped all over North America. The 1-1.5 inch dark green, soft needles radiate in all directions from the stem, giving it a full appearance.
Balsam fir needles are dark green, ¾ to 1.5 inches long and last a long time. The scent of the crushed needles is very pleasant, lasting throughout the holiday season.
Colorado blue spruce is a great choice for a living Christmas tree. In addition to the unique blue-green or gray-green foliage, it features a good shape and dense branches when young.
Scotch pine is the most heavily planted fresh Christmas tree variety. It’s needles are 1-3 inches long, medium green. Needle retention is excellent, even when it dries out.
Eastern white pine has some of the longest needles in this listing, giving it a soft appearance. Needle retention is good. Because of its faint scent, this is a good choice for anyone sensitive to heavy …show more content…
Make sure you buy a tree that is as fresh as possible. Test it by holding a branch tip firmly between your thumb and forefinger; with the opposite hand pinch the branch slightly higher and slide your fingers up the branch against the grain. The needles should not come off the branch.
Keep your tree fresh by cutting a 1-2 inch thick slice off the base of the trunk an hour or less before placing it in water. Display your fresh Christmas tree in a location out of direct sunlight and away from heat vents. Do not let the reservoir in the tree stand dry out.
If you have a living Christmas tree, plan on keeping in the house no more than a few days. It’s important that it be re-acclimatized to outdoor conditions gradually when returning outdoors. Place it in an unheated, sheltered location a day or so for the transition. Finally, water it well and take it back outside. If the ground is not frozen, plant it. If the ground is frozen, protect the root ball by insulating it in a pile of moistened mulch or straw until the
What makes the “best” Christmas tree? Having sold fresh cut Christmas trees for many years, I can attest to the old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In truth, your best fresh Christmas tree may look vastly different than someone else’s. Size, shape, branch density, needle length, color and fragrance are some of the personal preferences that will play into the final decision. For many of us, there is a specific tree species that just “smells like Christmas,” because we grew up with that type.
Popular Types of Christmas Trees
Each tree species has certain characteristics that have made it popular. Whether it’s the rigidity of the branch tips, how well it retains its needles or a striking …show more content…
It’s needles are ½ to 1 inch long, dark green above and blue-green beneath. Needle retention is excellent and the scent is pleasantly sweet and slightly pungent.
Douglas fir is grown and shipped all over North America. The 1-1.5 inch dark green, soft needles radiate in all directions from the stem, giving it a full appearance.
Balsam fir needles are dark green, ¾ to 1.5 inches long and last a long time. The scent of the crushed needles is very pleasant, lasting throughout the holiday season.
Colorado blue spruce is a great choice for a living Christmas tree. In addition to the unique blue-green or gray-green foliage, it features a good shape and dense branches when young.
Scotch pine is the most heavily planted fresh Christmas tree variety. It’s needles are 1-3 inches long, medium green. Needle retention is excellent, even when it dries out.
Eastern white pine has some of the longest needles in this listing, giving it a soft appearance. Needle retention is good. Because of its faint scent, this is a good choice for anyone sensitive to heavy …show more content…
Make sure you buy a tree that is as fresh as possible. Test it by holding a branch tip firmly between your thumb and forefinger; with the opposite hand pinch the branch slightly higher and slide your fingers up the branch against the grain. The needles should not come off the branch.
Keep your tree fresh by cutting a 1-2 inch thick slice off the base of the trunk an hour or less before placing it in water. Display your fresh Christmas tree in a location out of direct sunlight and away from heat vents. Do not let the reservoir in the tree stand dry out.
If you have a living Christmas tree, plan on keeping in the house no more than a few days. It’s important that it be re-acclimatized to outdoor conditions gradually when returning outdoors. Place it in an unheated, sheltered location a day or so for the transition. Finally, water it well and take it back outside. If the ground is not frozen, plant it. If the ground is frozen, protect the root ball by insulating it in a pile of moistened mulch or straw until the