Selection of Christmas Trees
Thursday, July 29th, 2010Given the many types of Christmas trees available and the various ways inwhich they can be bought, it’s important to know certain qualities that aChristmas tree should have so that it will be suitable for decorating and willalso last through the season.
One of the most important qualities a Christmas tree should have isfreshness. This makes buying a tree from a Christmas Tree Farm the best optionbecause you will observe the tree being cut at the time it is purchased. If atree is bought elsewhere, such as from a retail lot, it is important to find outwhere the tree came from and when it was cut.
To determine the freshness of a tree, observe whether it looks green andhealthy, has a fragrant scent and has needles that are moist and flexible. Ifthe needles appear dry or show browning, then that is a sign the tree isn’t veryfresh. If a large amount of green needles fall when a few branches of the treeare shaken, that’s also a sign that the tree isn’t the best one to buy to lastfor the entire season.
The needles of fir trees should break crisply when theyare bent. If a fir tree needle is bent and doesn’t break readily with pressure,it might mean that the tree isn’t absorbing water and that will affect itslongevity.Another reason a Christmas tree farm can be a better option for purchasing aChristmas tree is that it will be more likely to offer more species of trees andtherefore a wider variety of shapes and sizes.
For those Christmas trees that are located on retail or other commercial lots,freshness can be determined by looking at the conditions in which the trees arekept. Observe whether the trees are kept in stands that hold water, if baledtrees are protected from the wind and sun, if a fresh cut is put on trees and ifthe trees are tied down correctly.
Another quality to consider in selecting the right Christmas tree is its size.Before buying a tree, its important to decide where it will be placed so thatthe space can be measured. You will need to do a floor to ceiling measurementand then subtract at least 10-12 inches to get the maximum height for theChristmas tree.
It is recommended that at least 10-12 inches of space should bebetween the top of the Christmas tree and the ceiling.The bottom of the Christmas tree also needs to be checked to make sure there isadequate space between the end of it and the lowest branches. A small diagonalfresh cut, such as an inch, is made in that area to enhance absorption of water,which will make the tree last longer. This cut should be made just before thetree is placed in water.
If a fresh cut is done and the tree is exposed to theair too long, the vessels can become blocked.Along with freshness and size, a tree should be selected based on the shape thatyou like, the smell of the needles and bark and on how dense and sturdy thebranches are. For the density and sturdiness of the tree, you need to have anidea how the tree will be decorated – how many heavy ornaments, Christmas lightsor bows will be used. As an example, a fir tree that has sturdy branches will bebetter for holding heavy ornaments and a pine tree is good for Christmas treesthat have light decorations such as bows and a string of Christmas lights.
The texture of the branches and how durable or long-lasting the tree willbe are also worth considering in choosing a perfect Christmas tree.