Many families celebrate the end of the Thanksgiving holiday season by
selecting and decorating a live Christmas tree in their homes. Last
year, over 32 million live Christmas trees were purchased at box stores,
garden centers, Christmas tree lots and local Christmas tree farms
across the United States.
Most trees are generally purchased the
first weekend in December, which just happens to fall right after
Thanksgiving this year - but sales continue all the way through
Christmas Eve.
Do you have a preferred type of Christmas tree?
Pine, spruce, and fir are the most common conifers cut and purchased for
Christmas trees. Conifers are trees that produce their seeds in cones.
They also have needle or scale-like leaves that stay green all winter
long. Hence, they are also called evergreen trees.
One can
identify each type of conifer by examining the needles and how they are
attached to the stem. If needles are attached to the stem in clusters of
2-5 needles, then the tree is a pine. Spruce and fir trees have
individual needles directly attached to the stem.
To distinguish
the difference between a spruce and fir tree, feel the texture, shape,
and rolling ability of the needle. Spruce needles tend to be sharply
pointed and easily roll between your fingers. Fir needles tend to be
soft and flat and are difficult to roll.
Once you’ve picked the
perfect conifer to bring home – you’ll want ensure it performs all
season long. The following tips can help trees retain needles longer
once in the home.
Cut ½ to 1 inch from the end of the trunk and
immediately place the tree in cool water. Several hours after a tree is
cut, the trunk can no longer absorb water. The freshly cut trunk removes
any blocked vascular tissue and allows the tree to take up water again.
Place
your Christmas tree in a cool room. Warm temperatures cause trees to
dry out quickly. Make sure to keep live trees away from heat sources
such as air vents, wood stoves, fireplaces, etc.
Trees take up the
most water in the first few weeks after cutting. Select a tree stand
that holds at least one quart of water per inch of stem diameter. If the
tree stand accidentally runs out of water, it will need to be taken
down and an additional ½ to 1 inch removed from the base of the trunk.
This can be nearly impossible once trees are decorated, so check stands
several times each day. Indoor pets also like to drink from tree stands
which may require more frequent watering.
Once the Christmas
season is over and needles begin to shed, it is time to remove the tree.
You may want to wrap the tree in a sheet or tree bag before taking it
outdoors to prevent considerable needle shed in the home. Check with
your local community or village on whether there is a local tree drop
off/pick up or recycling program. Trees can also be chipped and recycled
into mulch.
If you did not select a live tree this year, perhaps
consider it for a future holiday season. Nearby Christmas tree farms can
be located at http://ohiochristmastree.org/. For other information,
please contact the Putnam County Extension office at 419-523-6294, by
email at Scheckelhoff.11@osu.edu or stop in at 1206 East Second Street
in Ottawa. You can also find us on Facebook by searching for OSU
Extension Putnam County.