   Real Christmas Trees - December 12, 2001 Jeff Schalau, County Director, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Truckloads of Christmas trees have been shipped across the country to provide consumers with a centerpiece for their holiday celebrations. In fact, the American Christmas Tree Association conducted a survey that estimates 40 million U.S. families will bring a real Christmas tree into their home during the 2001 holiday season. Of these, 32.3 million will be farm-grown trees. According to their survey, this is an increase of over 200,000 trees from last year. The survey also indicated about 29% of families will purchase their trees at a Christmas tree farm, 56% will obtain a tree from a retail lot, civic group, or chain store, and 300,000 will purchase their tree over the Internet or by mail order. Many people think that real Christmas trees come from forests and are wild harvested. In fact, they are grown on over 15,000 Christmas tree farms across North America, where they are planted, tended, pruned, and harvested as an agricultural crop. Most Christmas trees that reach Arizona are Douglas-fir or grand fir from Oregon, Washington, or even Canada. The stately, higher priced trees are red or noble fir. Before choosing a tree, you should know how to shop for the best value. The American Christmas Tree Association has developed some tips for choosing a tree from a retail lot: 1. Be sure you know what size (height and width) you need before heading to the retail lot. 2. Go to a retail lot that is well-lit and stores trees in a shaded area. 3. Often, a tree obtained soon after its arrival on the retail lot will be very fresh because it was cut recently. Consumers should ask the retailer when he/she gets the trees: are they delivered once at the beginning of the season, or does he/she obtain several shipments during the season. 4. Do a freshness test on the trees. Green needles on fresh trees break crisply when bent sharply with the fingers -- much like a fresh carrot. 5. Pines have different indicators because of the fibrous nature of their needles compared to firs. The needles on fresh pines do NOT break, unless they are very dry. 6. Look for other indicators of dryness or deterioration: excessive needle loss, discolored foliage, musty odor, needle pliability, and wrinkled bark. A good rule-of-thumb is, when in doubt about the freshness of a tree, select another one. If none of the trees on the lot look fresh, go to another lot. 7. Some species simply last longer and remain fresh much longer than others. Ask your retailer which tree performs best in your climate. Once the tree is at your home, cut a ¼ inch disk from the base of the tree and immediately place it in a bucket of water or in the stand. Keep ample water in the stand at all times. It the water runs out, the tree will exude resin and seal the cut surface. If this happens, you will need to cut another ¼ inch disk from the tree (not an easy task once the tree has been decorated). Do not use additives in the water. The tree will absorb most of the water shortly after it is cut, but it should be checked and replenished daily. Choose a place in your home to display the tree that is away from heaters, fireplaces, televisions, computers, or other heat generators and check all electrical devices, such as lights, before placing them on the tree. After the holidays, trees can be chipped to create mulch or otherwise recycled. Many communities offer this service to residents after the holidays. If you do not have this service, cut branches can be laid on the ground as mulch, and the trunk can be used for firewood. Live trees are also popular. If planning to have a live tree and plant it in your landscape after the holidays, know the species to discern whether it is suitable for our area and how large it will be when mature. Many of the small, potted Christmas trees you see at retail stores are not suitable for planting outdoors in our area. Unless you know the tree species and its suitability, I do not recommend planting these trees in your landscape. Christmas trees that are suitable for our area should be planted where they will have ample room when mature. There is nothing quite as frustrating as having to remove a healthy tree because it was planted too close to a house or under power lines. Another option is to plant a Christmas tree in a large container that can be brought indoors for a week or so during the holiday season. Keep in mind that the tree will be stressed while indoors from heat and lack of sunlight. Potted trees can also be quite heavy. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on planting and caring for trees. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 or E-mail us at mgardener@verdeonline.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. |