November 28, 2001
Stillwater Gazette
Betsy Halden

Choosing the perfect Christmas tree

Does it seem almost impossible that it is time to think about selecting a Christmas tree? After our warm, long-lasting, wonderful fall I would like to continue to put in daffodil bulbs. That time has come and gone. Now it’s time to think about the holidays.

The Christmas tree is a holiday tradition which began in Germany in the seventeenth century. German immigrants and Hessian soldiers hired by the British to fight the colonists during the American Revolution brought the tradition to the united States. Today, most Americans decorate their homes with an “artificial”, live, or cut tree, for the holiday season.

Some people like to use container grown or balled an burlapped live trees as Christmas trees during the holiday season. Our harsh winters make it difficult to plant the trees after Christmas. The survival rate is low. Many Minnesotans prefer to select a cut tree for the holidays.

A few decisions need to be made before you buy a cut tree. Decide where you are going to place the tree. Trees placed away from heat registers which blow warm air may not dry out so quickly. Decide on the type of tree you would like, such as Scotch pine, white pine, Fraser fir, Douglas fir, white spruce. Then decide on the size, height and width of the tree you want which will fit into the space you have selected in your home.

Cut Christmas trees may be purchased from local cut-you-own tree farms or as cut trees in a commercial lot. Trees cut and purchased at cut-you-own tree farms in our area are obviously fresh. Carefully check trees at a commercial tree lot to insure the freshness of the tree. You can determine freshness by a few simple tests. Gently run your hand over a branch. The needles on a fresh tree will be pliable. Those on a dry tree will be brittle. Another test is to lift the tree by the trunk and lightly bounce the butt on the ground. Heavy needle drop indicates a dry tree. A fresh tree will drop only a few needles.

When looking for a tree select one that has a straight trunk. it will be much easier to set it upright in the stand. Check the diameter of the trunk to make sure it will fit in your stand. A tree with a bare side may be fine if you intend to place it in a corner or against a wall.

Once you get the tree home, place it in a cool sheltered location. The storage site should protect the tree from the sun and wind. Saw off 1 inch of wood at the bottom of the trunk before bringing the tree indoors. A fresh cut helps facilitate water uptake. Place and secure the tree in its stand and fill the reservoir with water. Check the water supply at least twice a day and add water as needed. Promptly remove the tree when it begins to dry and drop needles. Meanwhile enjoy the beauty, freshness and fragrance your tree brings to the holiday season.

Betsy Halden is a Master Gardener with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota Extension Service materials were consulted in the preparation of this column. You can reach Betsy Halden at eahalden@comcast.net