Christmas Tree Selection and Care

by ED LEE

Introduction

The Thanksgiving turkey has safely been put away, you just settle down for a long weekend of football when there comes the sound of a wee small voice, "When are we going to put up the Christmas tree." You now have a new goal--finding that ONE Christmas tree out of the 32 million trees what will be sold this year. Finding that PERFECT tree, YOUR tree, has now become a part of the holiday tradition.

This article discusses types of trees, tree species, cut tree care, offers safety tips on decorating trees, and considers tree disposal.

Christmas Tree Selection

Things that should be considered when selecting a Christmas tree include:

The type of tree you desire, "real" or "artificial". "Real" Christmas trees are available as "cut" or "live" which may be either "potted" or "balled-and-burlapped".
Space available for the Christmas tree. Locate the tree away from heat sources and out of traffic patterns. Measure the area selected for the tree, include both width and ceiling height. Even though several inches may be cut off of the butt end, the size of the stand and/or size of root ball or pot will add several inches to the tree's overall height.
Species of Christmas trees desired.
Where to purchase your Christmas tree, options include local retail lots (pre-cut), local growers (choose-and-cut), or nurseries/garden centers (pre-cut or live).
Handling and maintenance of the cut-tree or live-tree.
Decoration/safety
Disposal

Cut Trees

Cut, real trees are the most common type of Christmas tree. These are available as a pre-cut tree purchased from a dealer, a choose-and-cut tree purchased from a local grower, or as a wild-grown native Christmas tree.

Pre-cut/Pre-harvested Trees

Most pre-cut trees are purchased from retail lots which are temporary lots set up in shopping centers, at discount stores, vacant lots and at other visible locations. They offer a variety of tree species and convenience. Many are run by local civic clubs, and other non-profit organizations and serve as fund-raisers for those organizations.

Great care needs to be taken in selecting a pre-cut tree. Most pre-cut Christmas trees sold in Oklahoma are imported from out of state. This does not necessarily mean that it is not a fresh, high-quality tree. However, some of these trees may have been cut as early as August to get to the retailer by Thanksgiving. As soon as a Christmas tree is cut it begins to dry. A tree that has dried will not recover when placed in water and is a fire hazard. Dry trees also tend to lose needles.

Follow these steps to be sure that the tree you are buying is fresh and of high quality.

Gently pull on the needles. They should be tightly attached to the twig.
Shake the tree vigorously or bounce the butt on the ground. If green needles fall, look further. Dead, brown needles falling from the inner part of the tree may have been shed years ago and are less of a problem.
Check to see that the tree has a fresh, green color. Some trees are sprayed with a harmless, blue-green dye which may be hiding a dry tree.
Buy early before all the desirable trees have been sold.
Fir and pine trees hold needles better than spruce trees.
Break a few needles. They should be flexible and will feel moist or possibly sticky. They should also be fragrant when crushed.
Limbs should be strong enough to support lights and ornaments and be well placed to give the tree a pleasing shape. Proper placement can sometimes hide minor defects and result in a lower the purchase price.
Ask the dealer if the tree was locally grown. Local trees are much more likely to be fresh because they are cut nearer Christmas and aren't shipped long distances.

Choose-and-cut Trees

Choose-and-cut trees are available from Christmas tree growers throughout Oklahoma. This visit to the tree farm can sometimes be used as an "outdoor outing", with activities for the entire family. For the locations of local growers watch for newspaper ads at the beginning of the holiday season, around Thanksgiving, visit the internet at sites such as Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association or Christmas Tree Farm Network or use your favorite search engine, or contact your local Extension office for growers who have notified the office. Locally-grown trees are increasingly popular in the Oklahoma Christmas tree market. Virginia pine and Scotch pine are the most common trees available from Oklahoma growers. Other species that may be are available include Austrian pine, ponderosa pine, white pine, Norway spruce, and concolor fir.

Buy a choose-and-cut tree the way you would a pre-cut tree. Freshness and health are still the most important characteristics. Most growers will usually have many trees marked for sale in various sizes. The consumer is free to wander around, look at all the trees, and select one for cutting. Some growers will cut the tree for you and others will expect you to cut your own.

Native Trees

Oklahoma's most numerous native Christmas tree is the eastern redcedar. If you cut your own native Christmas tree, be sure you get the landowner's permission. Trespassing is illegal, even to cut what may be an unwanted tree.

Cut Tree Care

Once you have chosen a fresh Christmas tree, do your best to keep it fresh. A tree can stay fresh and healthy for several weeks if it is well cared for.

When you get the tree home, cut about an inch off of the butt end to remove clogged wood and to aid in water absorption. Get the cut end into a container of plain water quickly.
If the tree is not to be put up right away, store it in a protected, shady, unheated area. Cut the end and place the tree in a bucket of water.
When the tree is brought into the house, saw a slice of the butt again to insure water absorption.
Use a sturdy stand with a large water reservoir so it won't dry out. A fresh tree can use 1 pint to a gallon of water a day depending upon the size, so water daily. A tree is beginning to dry out if its water use slows or stops. If the tree does become dried out, it may not be able to adequately absorb moisture when it is re-watered, and will shed its needles prematurely. If this happens, it will be necessary to take the tree down, cut off a 1-inch slice, replace the tree in the stand and rewater.
Keep the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, TV's, radiators, and air ducts. Never have open flames on or near a Christmas tree.

Live(Potted or Balled-and-burlapped Trees)

Some consumers Buy a potted or balled-and-burlapped Christmas tree with roots intact for later use as a landscape tree. This difficult to do successfully, however, it can be done if proper care is taken.

Buy a healthy tree from a reputable nursery or grower. If possible, tag trees at the nursery or garden center early for pick-up or delivery a day or two before Christmas.
Keep the tree in a shaded area or a nonheated garage until it is brought inside.
Keep the soil in the ball or pot moist until well after it is transplanted after Christmas. A frozen ball need not be watered if the crown is shaded and protected.
To avoid damage to the roots, lift and carry the tree by the ball or pot, not the top.
In the home, locate the tree in as cool an area as possible, away from heat sources such as fireplaces, TV's, radiators, and air ducts. Never have open flames on or near a Christmas tree. Use only cool lights on the tree, any type of warmth may force the tree out of dormancy which may cause severe winter injury when transplanted outside.
Keep the tree in the house no longer than about one week.
Before taking the tree back outside, it should be allowed to re-adjust to the outside conditions by moving to an unheated garage or building for two or three days.
Dig the planting hole dug and use mulch to keep the hole and the fill dirt protected from freezing.
Remove all packing and binding materials when planting the tree. Backfill with soil and warm water. Mulch heavily to prevent the soil from freezing. Do not use fertilizer. Stake the tree for its first year.
If the ground is frozen or otherwise cannot be planted immediately, it should be placed in a sheltered area and the root ball heavily mulched.

Artificial Trees

Artificial trees are substitutes for real trees and are readily available at commercial outlets. They come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes and will not be discussed here.

Artificial trees must be used carefully. Electric lights should not be used on metal trees because of the danger of electric shock. Light these trees with off-the-tree spotlights. Plastic trees may be fire resistant but the fumes they give off when burned are toxic.

Species

Several species of Christmas trees may be found for sale in Oklahoma. These may include:

Douglas-fir, not a true fir, has 3/4- to 1-1/2-inch long needles that occur singly and are dark yellow-green or blue-green. Needle retention is good and most trees have good form, color, and density.
Balsam fir, a true fir, has flat 1/2- to 1-inch long needles that occur singly. The needles are shiny dark green on top and silvery white underneath. The attractive color, good fragrance, and good needle retention make it very popular, especially in the northeastern United States.
Concolor fir, another true fir, has flattened, blue-green needles about 1-1/2 inches long. It has nice color and form, but needles tend to drop indoors. Concolor fir is becoming very expensive because of its popularity as a landscape tree.
Austrian pine has 4- to 6-inch long, dark green needles in bundles of 2. It has a more open form and stouter branches than most. These trees have good needle retention.
Ponderosa pine looks very similar to Austrian pine, but needles are longer, in bundles of 2 and 3, and may be lighter colored.
Scotch pine, or Scots pine, needles are in clusters of 2 and are 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches long. Winter color ranges from yellow-green to blue-green and needle retention is good. Form is more open than on non-pines, but sheared trees can be very dense.
Virginia pine is long lasting, has a strong top that is straight and uniform, strong limbs that will support heavy ornaments, has a clean, pleasant pine scent and a dark green color. Needle retention is excellent.
Eastern white pine has 3- to 5-inch long needles in bundles of 5. Needles have a feathery feel and a pleasing, blue-green color.
Eastern redcedar is not a true cedar, but is one of the junipers. This species grows wild throughout much of Oklahoma. Its form and color are highly variable. Winter color of the trees tend to be dark purple-green and the odor can be quite strong. Foliage holds well, but twigs are thin and flexible and may not hold heavy ornaments well. This species is not usually sold as a Christmas tree but can often be obtained free with a land-owner's permission.
Blue spruce and Norway spruce needles occur singly, are 1/2- to 1-inch long, and are stiffer than Douglas-fir. Blue spruce usually has light blue or gray needles and Norway spruce needles are darker green. Both have good form, a pleasing odor, and dense foliage, but lose their needles quickly in warm rooms. Both can be fairly expensive.
Other pre-harvested trees that may be found include the Noble Fir, Grand Fir, Nordman Fir, and Fraser Fir.

Decoration/Safety

Use only electric lights on your tree, never candles. Lights and cord should have the Underwriters Laboratories safety seal.

If the insulation is cracked or sockets and plugs are loose or broken, throw the lights away and get a new set. New lights are relatively inexpensive, use less electricity, and stay cooler than old lights which is especially important on "balled-and-burlapped" or "potted" live trees. Many new light strings also have built in fuses. Read the instructions that come with the lights to determine how many strings to put on one circuit. Be sure to turn off the tree lights when no one will be in the room for any length of time.

Untreated paper, cotton, or other flammable ornaments should not be used on Christmas trees. University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Publication G88-866-A states that these materials can be treated with a fire-retarding mixture made as follows:

Ingredients		Amount
 
Borax			7 ounces
 
Boric acid powder	3 ounces
 
Warm water		2 quarts

Mix these materials well. Immerse the materials to be treated or spray the solution on. Remember, this solution is a fire retardant, not a flame-proofing agent and is not effective in protecting a tree from fire.

Tree Disposal

Christmas trees can be useful even after they are taken down. The trees can be placed in the yard to add greenery and by attaching suet and fruit it can act as a bird haven until spring. They can be weighted and placed strategically in ponds to provide shelter for fish. Be sure to secure permission from the appropriate authorities before placing any potential hazard in any public pond, lake, or resevoir. Tulsa has an annual "12th Night Burning of the Greens" at Johnson Park soon after Christmas. Christmas trees are gathered and used for a large bon-fire appropriately supervised by the Tulsa Fire Department. Check your local newspaper or watch for TV announcements for dates and drop-off points. Trees are also a source of organic material. They can be used for firewood or chopped up and used as a mulch. The Tulsa City Greenwaste Site locations are 71st Street South, between Elwood Avenue and the Arkansas River,(open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday thru Wednesdays, except City holidays) and at 3300 N. Yale Avenue(open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday thru Saturday, except City holidays).

This material includes numerous excerpts from the following sources:
1. G88-866; Christmas Tree Selection and Care, Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1995.
2. Pub. 420-641, Selection and care of Christmas Trees, Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1996.
3. Christmas Tree--Live, Horticulture Solutions Series, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois, College of Agricultural, consumer and Environmental Sciences, 1995.