What You Need to Know Before Buying a Christmas Tree

Choosing the traditional Christmas tree starts the holiday season, since 1850. President Franklin Pierce (Fourteenth President) was the first President to bring the traditional Christmas tree to the White House. In 2005, the National Christmas tree is eighty – foot spruce from Santa Fe Forest, New Mexico. The tree is will be lighted, on December 8, 2005. According to National Christmas Tree Association, “About 23 percent of the consumers will purchase their trees from a ‘Christmas tree farm’ while 62 percent will buy trees from a retail lot.” About 300,000 consumers will purchase their real tree over the Internet or by mail order.” State of Oregon produces the most number of real Christmas trees. In 2003, 23.4 million Christmas trees were sold, for a total value of 291 million dollars, in the United States. In 2004, sixty million Christmas tree seedlings where planted, by Christmas tree farmers. Takes five to twelve years to grow a Christmas tree.

Consider following, when purchasing a Christmas tree, and keeping it healthy through the holiday. Throughout various communities, trees are sold from retail stores, and temporary lots. Trees that arrive to retail outlets, will not be as fresh, considering from time the tree is cut down, until arriving at the retailer. Purchasing a Christmas tree from a farm is freshest type of tree that can be cut down, and taken home. Four popular types of Christmas trees: Frasher Firm, White Pine, Scottish Pine, and Norway Spruce. When purchasing a tree, should consider the following: Christmas tree needles retention requires or don’t require water, firmness of the branch, fragrance, and resistance to fire. Ranking on the top of the list is Fraser firm (Frasher firm named for the Scotland botanist, John Fraser that explored the southern Appalachians in the late 1700’s.) and Pine Trees (Most planted commercial Christmas tree in North America, and imported from Europe). Least desirable is Norway Spruce.

Other considerations when purchasing a Christmas tree

Determine where you want to place the tree in your residence. Make sure there is enough space to work around the tree, to place decorations evenly, space to use a ladder or stool, and not near a location, where it maybe accidentally knock down or near a corridor. Near the location should be an electrical outlet. There should be nothing near the location that may cause a fire, such as fireplace, television, radiators, Air duct or near a lamp. Measure the height, so that the tree will not touch the ceiling, and have enough room to place a ‘Star” or special ornament on top of the tree. If the tree is too tall for the room, then it will have to be trimmed. Base of the tree, should be cut back two inches, which refreshes the tree, to allow water to be absorbed. There are various types of stands that will hold a Christmas tree to a base.

Check the type of stand according to the size of the tree. The stand should hold approximately one gallon of water, in a reservoir, and additional water should be added, when needed. Add to the water an aspirin or other types of additives, that will keep the tree healthy and last longer. Consider using guy-wires to secure a large tree to walls or ceilings. The wires are virtually invisible. Consider applying to the tree, fire retardant, that will help prevent a fire. A fire retardant mixture can be made by mixing together: Borax – seven ounce, Boric acid powder – three ounces, and warm water – two quarters. Then spray the solution. Also, if tree does not get enough water, will dry out and be more perceptible to fire.

When examining a tree for purchase, should look healthy from appearance, and looking green with few if any dead / brown needles. Needles should be flexible, but not easily come off the tree with a gentle stroke. An easy test to examine the health of the needles: Lift the tree off the ground a few inches, and then drop the tree onto the ground or shack the tree vigorously. If few or no needles fall of the tree, then the tree is more likely to be healthy. Examine the tree, if any brownish, wooly material adhering to the stem or branches, would be indication of gypsy moth egg masses, which harmfully effect the healthy of the tree, and should be avoided. Consider spraying the tree with indoor or outdoor approved aerosol insecticide containing pyrethrins, to prevent or kill any insect (Always read instructions). Buy early, before all the desirable trees have been sold.

Always check the Christmas lights for any cracks or broken wires, before placing on a Christmas tree, to prevent a fire. Never leave the Christmas lights on, when leaving the residence. Preferably use miniature lights, since those lights produce less heat, and reduce the drying effect on the tree. Also, never use lighted candles to decorate a tree.
After the holidays, the Christmas tree can be grinded to produce mulch, and placed in Flower Beds or gardens. Main stem can cut into small pieces, and used in a fireplace. Also, the tree can be weighed down into a pond to attract fish.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!