Owens Corning

Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree

The Freshest TreeFor many families, selecting and decorating the Christmas tree marks the true beginning of the holiday season. Choosing the right tree and providing it with the proper care can add to the festive atmosphere you create. Several species are grown and sold across the United States. Some of the more popular ones include:

Douglas Fir: Especially popular in the Pacific Northwest, this tree is full, light weight, green in color, and features 3/4 to 1 1/2-in. soft needles. It's known to have good needle retention and is good for warm environments (e.g. rooms with a fireplace).

Balsam Fir: With needles 1/2 to 1-in. long, this tree is known for its attractive color, form, fragrance, and good needle retention.

Scotch Pine: A very popular Christmas tree, the scotch pine has very long needles (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches), and good needle retention

Eastern Red Cedar: More plentiful in the southern states, this tree tends to be dark in color, and dense with a strong aroma. However, you may have to deal with sticky needles and a short house life.

Blue Spruce: Spruce needles are short (1/2 to 1-in. long) and stiff. The trees are usually bluish-gray and dense with a nice aroma and symmetrical form, but tend to lose their needles quickly in warm rooms. They also tend to cost a bit more.

Arizona Cypress: Steeple shaped, the Arizona Cypress is pale-green to gray-green in color. The needles are extremely tiny and quite plentiful.

Before You Buy

Before heading out to your local Christmas tree lot or farm, decide where you will place your tree. Measure the area for height and width to be sure you select an appropriately-sized tree.

If you're purchasing a pre-cut tree, gently pull on the needles. If the tree is fresh, very few will come off. Next, shake the tree vigorously. If green needles fall off, look for another tree. (It is common for brown needles to fall when a tree is shaken; this is NOT an indication that the tree is too dry.) Try breaking a few needles. They should be flexible, fragrant, and sticky if the tree is fresh.

Display and Care

If there is a lag time between purchase and set up, store your Christmas tree in a sheltered, shady, and unheated area. Make a fresh cut at the base of the trunk and place the tree in a bucket of water.

When you're ready to place your tree in a stand, make another straight fresh cut across the base of the trunk. Your stand should hold at least one gallon of water. (A fresh cut tree will absorb as much as one gallon of water within the first 24 hours, and can use one or more quarts a day thereafter.)

Keep your tree away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, TVs, and radiators. Check electric lights and connections -- do not use worn, frayed wires or cord, and always unplug your tree lights when no one is home. Never place open flames on or near your Christmas tree.

This information was gathered from the National Christmas Tree Association, www.christree.org, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension, www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/Forestry/88-866.htm.)

Courtesy of Article Resource Association
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.

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