Selection of
Christmas Trees
Given the many types of Christmas trees available
and the various ways in which they can be bought,
it's important to know certain qualities that a
Christmas tree should have so that it will be
suitable for decorating and will also last through
the season.
One of the most important qualities a Christmas tree
should have is
freshness. This makes buying a tree from a Christmas
Tree Farm the best option because you will observe
the tree being cut at the time it is purchased. If a
tree is bought elsewhere, such as from a retail lot,
it is important to find out where the tree came from
and when it was cut.
To determine the freshness of a tree, observe
whether it looks green and healthy, has a fragrant
scent and has needles that are moist and flexible.
If the needles appear dry or show browning, then
that is a sign the tree isn't very fresh. If a large
amount of green needles fall when a few branches of
the tree are shaken, that's also a sign that the
tree isn't the best one to buy to last for the
entire season. The needles of fir trees should break
crisply when they are 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 its longevity.
Another reason a Christmas tree farm can be a better
option for purchasing a Christmas tree is that it
will be more likely to offer more species of trees
and therefore 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 are kept. Observe whether the trees are kept
in stands that hold water, if baled trees are
protected from the wind and sun, if a fresh cut is
put on trees and if the 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
that the space can be measured. You will need to do
a floor to ceiling measurement and then subtract at
least 10-12 inches to get the maximum height for the
Christmas tree. It is recommended that at least
10-12 inches of space should be between the top of
the Christmas tree and the ceiling.
The bottom of the Christmas tree also needs to be
checked to make sure there is adequate space between
the end of it and the lowest branches. A small
diagonal fresh 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 the tree is placed in water. If a fresh cut
is done and the tree is exposed to the air too long,
the vessels can become blocked.
Along with freshness and size, a tree should be
selected based on the shape that you like, the smell
of the needles and bark and on how dense and sturdy
the branches are. For the density and sturdiness of
the tree, you need to have an idea how the tree will
be decorated - how many heavy ornaments, Christmas
lights or bows will be used. As an example, a fir
tree that has sturdy branches will be better for
holding heavy ornaments and a pine tree is good for
Christmas trees that 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 will be are also worth
considering in choosing a perfect Christmas tree.