   Christmas Trees - December 8, 1999 Jeff Schalau, County Director, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Many folks are about to adopt a new house ornament for the holidays: the Christmas tree. In doing so, some decisions must be made: live or artificial, containerized (living) or cut, which species, how much does it cost, etc. Let's examine this holiday tradition and discuss how to approach it (before, during, and after the holidays). This focal point of a holiday tradition signifies different things to different people. Christmas trees first appeared in the United States during the mid-1800's. Christmas tree myths are traced back to pagan traditions where the evergreen symbolized the presence of life in the dead of winter. The evergreen tree was central to pagan beliefs and its significance in these cultures has been documented by archaeologists and anthropologists to at least 4000 b.c. Pagan beliefs about the orgin of the universe formed a basis for many of today's religious practices, myths, secular customs, legends, and fairy tales. To learn more about this interesting topic, you can read: The Solstice Evergreen by Sheryl Ann Karas. If you are considering a living Christmas tree, then consider one that can be planted in a large container and be brought into the house each year. So often people buy live trees, enjoy them during the holidays, then plant them in a poor location or slowly torture it to death with neglect. Remember, most of the tree species sold inexpensively as living Christmas trees can get big or may not be suited to our climate. Some species suited to the Verde Valley include: Arizona cypress, Leyland cypress, Eastern red cedar, Colorado blue spruce, scotch pine, elderica pine (not suited to Sedona), and pinyon pine. Select a healthy tree and make sure you know how large it will get when it matures before planting in your landscape. Do not plant it close to your house or under the eaves. For those of you worried about "murdering" a live tree, let me toss out a few thoughts worth considering. Christmas tree farming is viable form of agriculture. By buying a live cut Christmas tree, you are supporting a farmer. In 1998, 35 million Christmas trees were harvested in the United States. This crop was valued at $360 million. These trees are often grown on lands that are considered marginal for other crops. Christmas tree growers also support recycling efforts to keep the trees out of landfills and utilize the material productively in local communities. At the Christmas tree lot, look around to find the size, shape, and species that suits you. When selecting a cut tree, do a freshness test by grasping the branch between your thumb and forefinger and pulling it toward you (not recommended on spruce trees). Very few needles should fall off in your hand. Some brown needles in the interior are normal and these accumulate over the lifetime of the tree. Although this year's deadline is past, my family applies to the US Forest Service for a tree-cutting permit. If selected, they assign you a specific area to harvest a pinyon pine or Utah juniper. This makes for a pleasant outing and a really fresh tree. After choosing the perfect tree, store it in a sheltered, cool area until you are ready to decorate it. Before putting the tree in a stand, always make a fresh cut at the base of the trunk (it can be as little as ¼ inch up from the original cut). This will allow water to be transpired through the trunk, branches and leaves. Always keep the stand filled with plain water. Water additives are not recommended. If the tree dries out, sap will seal the cut end preventing water transport. If this happens, recut the base. During the first day, the tree may use as much as a gallon of water. If should only need a quart per day thereafter. This not only keeps the tree fragrant and looking good, but also prevents it from becoming a fire hazard. Test your lights before putting them on the tree to look for faulty wires and empty sockets. Never leave your home or go to bed without unplugging the lights. Christmas trees are biodegradable. After the holiday season, you can recycle your cut tree in many different ways. Cottonwood residents will have curbside pickup of Christmas tress on January 10, 2000. Others can drop off trees in Cottonwood Compactor site at 1500 W. Mingus Ave. The site is open Monday through Saturday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm and the cost is $1.00. These trees will be chipped and added to their mulch pile. Industrious home recyclers can cut off the branches and use them for mulch or erosion control in their yards. Notice that I did not discuss how to purchase an artificial tree. No doubt these "trees" have their advantages. But since this column is supposed to discuss gardening and plant science, I'll stick to topics I can address with reasonable intelligence. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on tree selection and planting. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 or E-mail us at mgardener@kachina.net and be sure to include your address and phone number. |