The following is from Marsha Overton, Coles County Master Gardener.

We finally got a little taste of winter this past week. I am busy getting my "fake" trees decorated. Christmas will be here and gone before we know it.

I have to admit we still have not gotten everything put away like we should. One thing to remember–do not put on your mulch until the ground has frozen. This allows the plants to harden and not be so shocked when the cold weather sets in. Don't forget to ask "Santa" for some of those special garden items you have been wanting.

There's probably no better holiday aroma, other than the smell of cookies baking, than that which comes from the live Christmas tree. Firs, spruces and pines are three of the most popular Christmas trees. Balsam Firs are known for their wonderful fragrance. Their short, soft needles and strong, layered branches make them great trees for large ornaments in particular. If needles retention is important, choose a fir because it holds onto its needles the longest. They get 4 Stars for fragrance and 3 stars for durability. Blue Spruces are known for their full, natural shape and soft fragrance. Their sharp stiff needles and thick branches also make them good at supporting heavy ornaments. Spruces firmly retain their needles, but only for three or four weeks, putting them behind firs and pines in terms of durability. They get a 3 star rating for fragrance and 2 stars rating for durability.

Scotch Pines boast strong branches and needles that can be prickly but adept at holding large ornaments. Pines are virile, holding their needles for six to eight weeks. However, they emit little fragrance, so they are not the best choice if filling a home with the smell of a fresh tree is important. Once you decide which kind of tree you are interested in, you'll have to consider where to put it. We are very fortunate to have so many wonderful tree farms located right here in our area. Probably one of the best times we had as a family was going to get our fresh cut Christmas tree. Of course, you can also choose to cut your own tree. We always preferred to ride in the wagon and let the professionals cut the tree. It is suggested that if you decide to cut a tree yourself, then cut it as close to the ground as possible. Leave the lower branches intact until you get home. Then remove the branches and either discard them or save them for a mantel decoration, wreath or other holiday craft.

Did you know that most Christmas trees are between 8 and 10 years old? This is one of the reasons why there will be some dead or brown needles come off the tree. You need to make a fresh cut on the base of the tree when you do get it home. This helps the tree to absorb water, which of course is very important for your tree. Be sure and check the water level in the stand every day. Most trees "drink" about a gallon of water a day. It is a good idea to keep at least two gallons of water in the stand.

Hopefully this has helped those of you considering a fresh cut Christmas tree. There's still plenty of time to go looking for that "perfect" Christmas tree.

GARDEN QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Q) Prior to placing the Christmas tree in a water holding stand, how much of the trunk base should be removed to increase water intake? A) Removing a thin disk (1/4 inch) off the trunk prior to placing the tree in a water holding stand is all that is necessary. Some people have the misconception that 1 or 2 inches of trunk should be removed. The reduction of water uptake is at the point of the old cut so the thickness of the disk removed is not important.

Q) Will cutting the trunk of the Christmas tree at an angle increase water uptake? A) No. A cut perpendicular to the axis of the trunk is just as effective as any other type cut. It is more difficult to keep an angle trunk cut covered with water.

Q) Will adding commercial additives, such as carbonated soft drinks, bleach or sugar to the water in the tree stand help the tree last longer? A) Research has shown that these additives have little or no benefit in helping the Christmas tree last longer. The best needle retention occurs when the tree stand contains only clean water.

Q) Will evaporation-control chemical reduce water evaporation from the stand so that water doesn't have to be added to the stand as often? A) No. Water lost from a cut Christmas tree is taken up through the trunk and evaporates from the foliage. Little if any water is lost from the tree stand. A cut tree must be watered regularly.

Q) Will spraying the foliage of a cut Christmas tree with an anti-transparent keep it from drying out? A) No. Research has never shown the use of an anti-transparent on a cut tree to be beneficial.

Q) Do all species of trees keep equally well after being cut? A) Certain species of trees last longer and remain fresh longer than others. Some of the trees that remain fresh for a long period of time are balsam fir, Scotch pine, Douglas fir and Fraser fir. The Eastern red cedar and Virginia pine dry out extremely fast when not in water. Remember an excessively dry tree will not take up water when it is placed in a tree stand, even with a fresh cut base.

Q) How much water will a fresh cut tree absorb? A) It is not uncommon for a tree to use as much as two quarts of water during the first 24 hours it is inside the home. Add water to the tree stand each morning and evening unless you use a tree stand with a large water holding capacity. The tree should continue to take up a quart or more of water during the first week in the home. The amount of water taken up by a tree depends on the size of the tree and how cool the home is kept.

Q) What is the best way to fire proof my cut Christmas tree? A) The best way to fire proof a cut Christmas tree is to keep the tree taking fresh water. A well watered Christmas tree does not burn.

Q) If I wait until the week before Christmas to purchase my tree, will this ensure that I have a fresh tree? A) Not necessarily. The key to a fresh tree is being sure that it is fresh cut.

Q) Drilling the base of the tree to fit on the center peg type of water stand is all that is needed to allow water to be taken up by the tree, right? A) No. The wood near the center of the trunk is not very effective in taking up water. Most of the water taken up by a cut tree is through the area under the bark. This is the area containing the cambium layer in the living tree. This area has the xylem and phloem which are the vessels that conduct water up and down the tree. They will continue to function until they become plugged. Regardless of the type of tree stand used, it is important to re-cut the base of the trunk before placing the tree in the stand.