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Selecting the right Christmas tree
By Karen Panter UW extension horticulture specialist Very soon many of us will search for one of the most visible and treasured symbols of the holidays--the Christmas tree. Decorating trees for Christmas began in Germany several hundred years ago. German immigrants brought the tradition to the United States in the mid-1800s. In 1851, the first Christmas tree sales lot appeared in New York City. National Agricultural Statistics Service data indicate almost 21 million trees were cut in 2002 (latest year available) in the United States. Commercial tree farms numbered about 22,000 over 447,000 acres. Christmas tree farmers received $506 million in sales in 2004 http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census02/volume1/us/st99_2_035_036.pdf). Purchasing a tree Tree lots--The most common and most visible places to buy a Christmas tree is the temporary retail lot. These are often on busy street corners or in mall or department store parking lots. They may be operated by non-profit groups as fundraisers. Tree lots offer convenience for city dwellers who may not have easy access to cut-your-own tree farms or have permits to cut on forests. Trees in temporary lots may be more expensive than at other stores. Retail outlets--Other retail stores also sell Christmas trees. Garden centers, nurseries, discount stores, grocery stores, and hardware stores may sell a variety of trees for the holidays. Prices may be lower than in a temporary lot. Plus, garden centers and nurseries may offer greater cultivar selections. Cut-your-own--Some may be lucky enough to live close to a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm. Trees are grown in rows, and customers can walk through and choose their perfect tree. Many times, tree farm employees can help cut the tree, take it to the check-out area, and load it for transporting home. Many sizes and types of trees will be available. In the Rocky Mountain West, the National Forest Service will often open sections of national forest land for people to cut their own trees. Permits are always required, and trees are more affordable than commercial vendors. There won't be as large a variety of sizes and types of trees, though, as found on cut-your-own farms. Tree cutting by the customer, either on a tree farm or in a permitted national forest area, has several advantages. Fresh air and exercise are benefits of walking through a farm or forest, trees will be less expensive than those in retail lots, and the tree is guaranteed to be fresh. Mail order--Christmas trees can be ordered from a catalog or online; however, the convenience will carry a higher price tag. The exact size and type of tree can be ordered and will be delivered directly to the front door. Living--Many would like to enjoy a tree at Christmas time to plant outside later. This type of tree will either be in a large container or will have the root ball wrapped (balled-and-burlapped) so it doesn't fall apart. In Wyoming, living trees are not recommended because four months or more could pass between Christmas and tree-planting time in the spring. For this to work, put the tree in a cool room for no more than five days. The tree must be kept from "waking up" from its dormant state. After Christmas, the tree should be placed, still dormant, in a protected area outdoors to avoid freezing injury until time to plant. Mulch around the container or root ball will help retain moisture. The tree will need to be watered several times between Christmas and planting. Selecting a tree Tree types--Many types of evergreen trees are grown for Christmas tree sales. Here are some of the favorites. Firs--Douglas, balsam, and Fraser are common. Firs generally hold needles very well and can be quite fragrant. Their needles are also soft and not prickly. Pines--Scotch, white, and Austrian are favorites. Pines also hold their needles very well and are very fragrant. Spruces--Colorado blue is the most common. Blue spruces won't hold onto needles as well as firs or pines. The blue-gray color is an advantage with this tree, but not all blue spruces are blue. Cedars or junipers--These are not as common as firs, pines, and spruces. They can be prickly but their aroma is an attraction. Check for freshness. Bend a few needles. If they spring back without breaking, the tree is fresh. If they are brittle and break, look for another tree. Shake the tree a little or gently bump on the ground a time or two. Don't worry if a few brown needles from the inside of the tree fall. That's normal. But, if lots of green needles drop off the tree, the tree is not fresh. Check the cut end of the tree. Sap on the stump should be sticky and moist. If hard or caked, the tree may not be fresh. Stand back and look at the whole tree's color. Depending on the tree type, the color should be deep green (most firs, pines, some spruces) or blue-gray (blue spruce). Date: 11/16/07
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