By Patty Cormier
When I was just a mite, my father had this romantic image of having a sleigh for our horse, Deagon, to carry the family out on a snowy white night with the ringing bells and all to find a Christmas tree. We would all be singing of course.
You know–the whole “one horse open sleigh” kind of thing. So he found a dilapidated sleigh, fixed it up with a nice red paint job and bells. My friend Karen and I took it out for a spin. Long story short, Deagon got spooked, took off for the woods and as we jumped off right before impact (we still disagree as to who stayed on the longest), the horse ended up stuck in between two trees (she was fine, we were fine) with the sleigh and its bells in splinters. A true story.
So regardless of whether you have a horse and sleigh or not, to many, getting a Christmas tree is the start of Christmas cheer, time with family and traditions.
I just wanted to touch on a few Christmas tree shopping points hoping this helps for you to get that perfect tree, especially for the first timers, or those switching from the PVC models to the real thing.
My first hope is that if you are going to get a real live tree, please think local and support your local Christmas tree grower wherever you may be. If you don’t know where they are, check out the Maine Christmas Tree Association’s website here. You can plug in your town or zip code on their site and get a listing of local farms. This form of farming is just as much work as any, and they deserve our support.
Okay, some first steps. Before you head out to get a tree, some measurements are recommended. Much like you would before going to a furniture showroom to pick out that new La-z-boy. Measure the height to your ceiling and subtract the height of your favorite angel tree topper and the height of your stand. A sure sign that was not done is that brown streak on the ceiling.
Also measure the diameter of the stand and think of how wide of an area you are willing to have taken up by that tree. One tree grower I spoke with said that he figures that 80 percent of tree shoppers get trees too tall or wide. Also, have an idea beforehand what you are willing to spend, and a rough idea of what you are looking for aesthetically. Charlie Brown trees are actually becoming more and more popular.
With those measurements in mind, whether you are buying a pre-cut tree, or a you-cut tree, treat each candidate with the fresh test. If you are lucky enough to go get one in your back forty, freshness will not be a question. It goes without saying that the healthiest and freshest trees sell quickly. But even if you wait, there are ways to test the freshness.
Pull lightly on the needles, take a sniff. The needles should not come off easily and should smell fragrant. If it is a pre-cut tree, bump the base on the ground, if only a few needles fall off, you are good. Also think of your ornaments; are they heavy? If they are, check out the density and strength of the branches to make sure the tree can handle them. The tree should also have a nice vivid green color, no discoloration.
Once you have chosen the most perfect tree ever, it is time to bring it home. Transporting with a pickup tree is the most low impact way to get it home (unless you do have a horse and sleigh), but either way, transport it with the butt of the tree facing the front. If you don’t, your tree might be a little thinner and wind-harassed when you get home!
Once home, cut an inch or so off the base if the tree is going right into your house. This will open up the tree pores to take in water. If you are going to wait, place it in a bucket of water and keep it in an unheated space away from wind and cold.
When placing the tree inside, it is best if to keep it out of direct sunlight, and definitely away from sources of heat such as woodstoves, fireplaces, heat vents, lights, candles and radiators. Keep the tree at the very least 3 feet from these sources of heat and allow for easy access for watering. Also don’t block an exit.
A fresh tree can absorb a gallon a day of water, so this can mean at least a daily watering, if not more. Never let the water level fall below the base of the tree, or that cut end will seal over and not take in any water. Watering prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and keeps the tree fragrant. Watering also prevents you from having a tall, dry fire hazard in your living space. Don’t add anything to the water, just plain water is best.
For lights use UL approved only, and check to make sure the light cords and extension cords are not frayed. Keep the number of light strings plugged into each other to a minimum (no more than three for the mini-light sets) and make sure your electrical outlets are not overloaded with too many items. That alone is a major source of fires.
Pets are famous for chewing on electrical cords, so make sure Fido and Fluffy behave themselves, or better yet, keep the cords out of the reach from pets and children.
For everyone’s safety, turn off the lights at night and when you aren’t home.
When to say goodbye to that tree is a personal preference, but it is definitely time when the needles start falling off. I know some people that have that baby out the door the day after Christmas, while others keep it up as long as possible. And then, of course, there are those who keep it on the lawn well into summer.
I hope these tips help in some way, and I most definitely wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
Patty Cormier of Farmington is a district forester with the Maine Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Very nice article Patty thank you.
I’ll find that ancient photo of the wrecked and snow-covered sleigh that you jumped from (abandoning your poor friend) and post it when I can. :) Hehehe…. Happy Thanksgiving, Patty. Would love to have you choose this year’s tree for us! :) xoxo
Plain water is best? I seem to remember being told (a long time ago, maybe in the 1950s) that putting brown sugar in the water helps. Is this wrong? If so, is it harmful, or just pointless?
At the Maine Christmas Tree Association’s website (see link in article), the search function works by town name but NOT by zip code.
Larry, just water is the ticket, additives have not been shown to increase the tree life, and some of them can hurt the process of the tree keeping itself hydrated.