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Christmas Tree
Everyone wants to find the perfect Christmas tree. Before you go shopping for a Christmas tree, plan where you are going to place it. You need an idea of how tall or wide your tree can be so it fits into the display area you have selected. You should keep fresh cut trees away from heat sources such as fireplaces and televisions as the tree dries out sooner and will not last through the holidays.
Some people like to shop early for their Christmas tree while others prefer to wait until a week or two before Christmas. If you want a fresh tree, try cutting your own at a Christmas tree farm. You wander around and check out all the trees until you find one that is perfect for you. Some places cut them down for you once you have selected a tree. At others, you cut your own Christmas tree down. If you go to a tree lot, spend a little extra if you can afford it to get a quality tree. Always look for freshly cut Christmas trees. They have a strong fragrance and very few needles fall off when you pull a branch towards you. Some of the more popular Christmas trees are:
* White Pine – soft, flexible bluish-green needles, very little aroma, not good for heavy ornaments
* Douglas Fir – an extremely popular Christmas tree, soft one inch needles that radiate in every direction, blue-green in color, sweet smell when crushed
* Scotch Pine – most common Christmas tree, one inch bright green needles, remains fresh and retains needles
* White Spruce – ¾” long stiff needles with a blunt end, unpleasant aroma when crushed, retains its needles well and great for ornaments
* Balsam Fir – strong sweet scent, short needles
You want to choose a tree that has a good, even, uniform shape without big holes or spaces between the branches. Make sure the trunk is straight so it does not lean to one side and the base is solid. The best way to transport your Christmas tree home safely is in the back of a truck or van. If you need to tie it on top of your vehicle, have the tree wrapped to protect it from the wind. Before you start decorating your tree, let it sit for a day or two so the branches fall and make sure the tree always has water. Your tree will stay fresher and last longer.
Instead of a cut Christmas tree many people choose to buy a live tree. Although not as large as most cut trees they still look beautiful with Christmas lights sparking and beautiful ornaments dangling. In the spring, once readjusted to the climate outside, you either plant your tree or give it away to someone who has room on their property for it.
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