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Weekly Garden Column

Buy Early for a Fresh Christmas Tree
David Robson, horticulture educator
University of Illinois Extension

Most fresh Christmas trees are harvested weeks before they appear locally. So the earlier you buy your tree, the fresher it is likely to be. You can maintain the freshness by keeping it in water—something retailers cannot do.

Choosing the right tree involves more than finding the prettiest one on the lot. Before you shop for a tree, decide where you are going to display it. Do you have space for a stately white pine, or for a shorter, fuller tree such as a Scotch pine?

According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the Scotch pine and Fraser fir are the most popular Christmas trees, probably because they hold their needles longer than most others. Because spruces are notoriously poor needle-holders, few are cut early enough for the wholesale trade.

Most varieties of Scotch pine have bushy branches and long needles that grow in clusters of two. It is native to northern Illinois and is produced by many local growers. As with other pines, it has excellent needle retention.
Firs tend to like cooler growing conditions than Illinois, but the shape, smell and silvery color of the needles, as well as the density of branches and branch strength, makes them a popular choice. Among the imports to the Illinois market are the Douglas fir, Noble fir and Balsam fir. Douglas firs technically are not a true fir.

Once you have decided what kind of tree you want, start looking over the selection. Buy the tree in an open space with good lighting. Choosing your tree from a dark, crowded lot on the coldest night of the year is not a good idea. Shopping during the day, when you can take your time, will probably help you make a better choice.

There is no sure way to determine freshness, although very dry trees are not too hard to recognize. A common mistake is to confuse frozen needles with those that are truly dry.

Some people enjoy cutting their own at a "choose-and-cut" tree farm. In this case, there is no question of freshness.

You will probably want at least three of the sides to be symmetrical, unless the tree is to stand in a corner. You will need a strong leader—the upright branch at the top of the tree—if you plan to use a star or angel on top.

Stand the tree in water the entire time it is indoors, and cut an inch or two off the butt end just before you put it into its display stand. Never allow the water level to drop below the freshly cut butt.

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