The Freshest Christmas Ever
By Ken Lain, The Garden Guy

This cooler weather has arrived at the best time for cut Christmas trees! The low temps really extend the “fresh” look of the trees. This is really good for the well-stocked lots ready for this weekend’s rush of spirited patrons. If you are considering a cut tree for this year’s festivities, read on because I’m going to tell you which tree types look best the longest and how to choose the freshest tree on the lot.

First I must address my concerned, environment conscientious readers. I want to explain that, to a farmer, Christmas trees are like a crop of corn or tomatoes. The main differences are that we grow them for a few years, instead of just one season, and when we harvest the crop we promptly plant another in its place. It’s a practical system that sustains tree populations and provides die-hard traditionalists with cut Christmas trees.

Many customers assume that trees are cut a few days prior to their sale. Although buying a tree that was cut just a few days before you buy it is ideal, that usually is not the case. Box stores and other high volume movers have their trees cut weeks ahead of delivery to meet the demand of national distribution. Some growers have helicopters fly bundles of cut trees to lakes near the farms and keep the trees hydrated by floating them in the water. Others stack them high and spray them with preservatives to keep the trees from drying excessively. Like most retailers, we carry hundreds and hundreds of freshly cut Christmas trees; unlike most retailers we have been frantically cutting the last of our trees for the garden center!

Dozens of varieties are cut and sold for Christmas trees, but three are stand- outs for longevity and value. Frazier and Noble Firs are the longest lasting trees, their sturdy branches able to support the heaviest ornaments. With majestic, swooping branches and thick, soft needles that last they are the most desirable for Christmas trees.

Longevity of the Noble Fir comes from the amount of water this tree can hold within its trunk. However, this hydrating fluid retention adds considerably to the weight of the tree. I sell Noble Firs up to 12 feet tall; after that they are just too heavy to handle, and even the 12-foot models require special stands to hold them upright and straight.

Frazier Firs have wonderful two-tone needles with a deep green color on top and a silver undercoat that just seems to add a touch of Christmas magic. As a Frazier dries out the needles stubbornly hang on to the branches so that it exhibits far less needle drop than with any other type of tree.

Douglas Firs are perfectly shaped trees with soft branches and an almost solid mass of needles. They seem to last about two weeks indoors, sometimes even three, and still retain their fresh look. This tree grows at lower elevations which enables farmers to push growth at least twice a year. This means that Douglas crops can be harvested much sooner than other trees, the value showing up in a lower cost per tree. Great value and superb fragrance are its benefits.

Here are my 6 tips for choosing the freshest tree and maintaining a fresh appearance:

Tip 1: Place a needle between your thumb and forefinger and bend it. A needle from a fresh tree will bend rather than break. It will have a strong fragrance and good color.

Tip 2: A fresh tree should have good weight, meaning that the tree has plenty of moisture left in the trunk and limbs. The larger the trunk the more moisture the tree can hold; just make sure that the trunk will fit into your tree stand.

Tip 3: If you are not ready to decorate the tree right away, keep it outdoors in a cool spot, protected from the drying effects of sun and wind. Make a fresh, diagonal cut near the base of the trunk and immediately place it in a large container of lukewarm water. If the water level is allowed to drop below the cut, a seal will form and a fresh cut will be necessary to keep the tree hydrated.

Tip 4: Trees are thirsty. Once set up indoors they may drink a pint or more of water a day; so check the water level daily and supply fresh warm water as needed. A tree will absorb warm water more easily than cold water. I highly recommend adding a tree preservative to the water. Preservatives definitely help trees to look fresh longer and hold their needles better.

Tip 5: Once you’ve used a Christmas tree bag you know that you would never think of putting up a tree in your house without one. Tree bags keep needles out of your carpet when removing the tree, making cleanup easier at the end of the season. It's well worth the investment for the reduced aggravation come cleanup time.

Tip 6: Placement is crucial. Place the tree away from south-facing windows and close, remove, or divert any sources of heat blowing directly onto the tree. Also, keep them away from fireplaces and stoves. In just a few days, any of these warming devices will draw all the moisture out of a tree.

Every year our garden center staff loads and secures thousands of trees to the tops of SUVs, full-size and subcompact sedans. Handling that many trees, we are familiar with our stock so we know where to lead you to trees we’ve just opened for viewing. Just ask. We want you to have the very freshest cut tree possible.

Until next week, I’ll see you in the garden center.

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