How to Choose a Really Fresh Christmas Tree
Tips for Finding the Freshest Christmas Greenery on the Lot
Sep 17, 2008
Since Roman times, people have decorated evergreen trees in midwinter to symbolize the continuation of light and life in the year’s most intensely cold and dark days. Millions of families a year still bring a touch of brightness to midwinter today by decorating an evergreen tree.
Just-Cut Trees Last Longer
The best way to ensure that your tree keeps its needles and smells wonderful all through the holidays is to buy the tree as soon as possible after it was cut. In the best-case scenario, you can expect a Christmas tree to stay green for three to four weeks from the day you bring it home.
If Possible, Buy Locally
You’ll find the very freshest trees at a cut-it-yourself Christmas tree farm, if there’s one located near you. If cutting your own tree is too much work for you, try to find an already-cut tree that was grown in your area, or at least in the same climate zone you live in. When trees are shipped long distances, the changes in temperature can cause their needles to drop off when you bring them into your warm house.
How to Test a Christmas Tree for Freshness
Just in case the employees at the local big box store or Christmas tree lot don’t know where the trees they’re selling originated, here are three freshness tests that will help you pick the perfect tree.
- Take a branch between your thumb and index finger. Gently pull your fingers along the length of the branch. If the tree is fresh, only a few needles will drop off. If you produce a shower of dry needles, move on to another tree.
- Grasp the tree by its trunk and shake it or pound its base on the ground. Even a fresh tree will shed some needles, but a dried-out tree or one that was shocked by long-distance shipping will shower the ground with needles.
- Bend a few of the branches or needles. They should be flexible and spring back easily. If the branches snap or the needles break, pick a different tree.
Measure Your Space Before Shopping
A tree that’s 12 feet tall just isn’t going to fit in a room with an 8-foot ceiling. It’s also important to make sure your tree will fit the width and depth of your space. Jot down those measurements before you go Christmas-tree shopping. Take a tape measure with you and keep in mind that the tree stand will add a few inches to the tree’s height.
The Top 5 Most Popular Christmas Trees
The National Christmas Tree Association reports 30-35 million trees are sold each year in the U.S. While statistics aren’t available for every country, the top selling Christmas trees in the United States are:
- Scotch pine
- Douglas fir
- Noble fir
- Virginia pine
- Balsam fir
All the commercially available Christmas trees have a beautiful green or blue-green color, with branches strong enough to hold heavy holiday ornaments. Any of them will make a memorable holiday tree.
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