<Christmas Trees and Their Care>

Christmas Trees and Their Care

For December 2007

Can you believe it; the holiday season is upon us again. It’s time for me to get out my holiday DVDs. One of my favorite DVDs is National Lampoons “Christmas Vacation”. One of my favorite scenes is the family trekking out into the snow covered forest to cut down the annual Christmas tree. Indeed, bringing home the tree often signals the official start of the holiday season

Here are some suggestions to help you choose that perfect family Christmas tree and to keep your tree fresh and safe during the holiday season.

First, some Christmas tree facts. Stump your family, friends, and neighbors with these trivial facts.

Did you know that?

The use of evergreen trees to celebrate the winter season occurred before the birth of Christ.

The first decorated Christmas was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.
The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
In the early 16th century, Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small Christmas tree with candles, to show his children how the stars twinkled through the dark night.
The first Christmas tree retail lot in the United States was started in 1851 in New York by Mark Carr. He brought trees from the Catskills to the streets of New York and opened the first retail Christmas tree lot.
Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850. Until fairly recently, all Christmas trees came from the forest.
In 1856 Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was the first President to place a Christmas tree in the White House.
Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882.
Christmas tree lights were first mass produced in 1890.
Using small candles to light a Christmas tree dates back to the middle of the 17th century.
Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.
From 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the "Christmas Ship" would tie up at the Clark Street Bridge and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.
President Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.
In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.
In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
In the United States, there are more than 21,000 Christmas tree growers and more than 12,000 cut-your-own farms.
Thirty-four to thirty-six million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms.
The best selling trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, Balsam fir and white pine.
In Florida, including Bay County, over 120,000 Christmas trees are produced yearly.
Purchasing a Florida grown tree is good for the environment because less fuel is used in transportation and it boosts the states economy.
On average, over 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.
2-3 seedlings are planted for every harvested Christmas tree.
Christmas trees take an average of 7-10 years to mature
Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
An acre of Christmas trees provides for the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
Growing Christmas trees provides a habitat for wildlife.
Recycled trees have been used to make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for fish shelter.
93% of real Christmas tree consumers recycle their tree in community recycling programs, their garden or backyard.
Christmas trees remove dust and pollen from the air.
Over 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted this year.
More than 330,000 real Christmas trees are sold via e-commerce or catalogs.
You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace. it can contribute to creosote buildup.
Artificial trees will last for six years in your home, but for centuries in a landfill.
In the first week, a tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.
Tinsel was once banned by the government because it contained lead at one time, now it’s made of plastic.
Real Christmas trees are involved in less than one-tenth of one percent of residential fires and only when ignited by some external ignition sources.

Tips on selecting and caring for your tree

Traditionally, Christmas trees came from the forest. Today, most Christmas trees are plantation or farm grown to give consumers the best possible trees. The whole family can have a great time in selecting their own tree whether in the forest, plantation or in a Christmas tree lot. Most trees are selected because of family tradition. Here in Florida, Red Cedar, Virginia Pine, Sand Pine, Spruce Pine and Leyland Cypress are grown for Christmas trees. Other types of trees are brought into our area for sale such as Scotch Pine, Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Balsam Fir.

Choosing a Field Grown Tree

Trees still connected to their roots will be fresh and full of water. Select a tree that will fit your stand. Then gently shake the tree to see if any green needles fall. After that, break a few needles and check for fragrance.

Scotch and white pines, Douglas and Balsam fir, and Leyland Cypress will stay fresh longer than other trees. Spruce, Cedars and cultivars of Arizona cypress stay fresh for a shorter period of time, thus losing needles quicker.

You should always check for freshness of trees on retail lots. The length of time since cutting and the way the trees have been handled can greatly influence how well they will hold their needles and fragrance once they are put up in the home.

Trees that have dropped to seventy-five percent foliar moisture content will continue to dry even when placed in water. Select trees that have been cut for a short period of time.

To test for freshness, take hold of a branch about six inches from the tip, between your thumb and forefinger, then pull your hand toward you allowing the branch to slip through your fingers. Very few needles will come off if the tree is fresh. Next, take a few needles and bend them. If they spring back, the tree is fresh. Now, bump the trunk of the tree on the ground. If green needles fall off the tree, it is not fresh. You can expect a few brown needles to fall from the tree.

Before You Bring Your Tree Inside

When you get the tree home, and your tree has been cut for more than one hour, make a fresh cut across the base of the trunk at least one to three inches up from the original cut. When a tree is first cut, a seal of sap occurs naturally over its stump which keeps moisture in the tree. It’s important to break that seal to allow the tree to take up water. Place the tree in plain water immediately. If you are not going to take the tree inside until later, store the tree out of the wind and sun in an unheated sheltered area such as a garage or porch. Make certain the container has sufficient capacity to keep the trunk in water all the time. A fresh tree may use more than a gallon of water a day. If the tree is stored outside in water for several days, recut one-half inch from the stem just before you take it inside. If the tree is leaning against a wall, make sure that you turn it daily to avoid disrupting the shape of the tree.

Bring Your Tree Inside

Once you have the tree is inside; place it in a stable container that will hold at least one, and preferably two, gallons of water. It’s important to remember that a Christmas tree is a real tree and needs water. A cut tree may absorb a gallon of water in the first day. Thereafter, it can absorb between two pints to a gallon daily. If you use a metal stand be sure to clean out all rust particles. They can prevent water uptake. Keep the trunk base covered with water. Be sure to check the stand every day and supply fresh water as needed. If the water supply runs out, a seal will form on the cut surface of the tree trunk and a new cut should be made. Overall, a good rule of thumb is to treat a green Christmas tree just like a fresh bouquet of cut flowers. Research conducted at North Carolina State University showed that adding Clorox, aspirin, sugar, and other commercial products did not help in keeping trees fresher. Good old distilled water was the best.

Keep the tree away from heat sources such as hot air ducts, radiators, fireplaces candles and television sets. If you have the tree in front of a large window that faces south, pull the blinds during the heat of the day. Remember, heat will dry your tree out. Place your tree away from household traffic patterns so that there will be no possibility of the tree being knocked over accidentally.

Commercial products can be purchased to help keep moisture in your tree. These anti-transpirant materials are sprayed on the tree and produce a clear film that covers the openings in the needles, thus keeping moisture in the tree.

Follow these additional fire safety tips:

Only use UL approved lighting accessories.
Avoid combustible decorations.
Keep metal foil and tinsel away from electrical sockets.
Always turn off your decorations before going to bed or leaving home.
Make sure your smoke detector is in good working order.
Make sure your fire extinguisher is in good working order.
Never place candles or other open flame sources on or near your tree.
Test your light cords before you put them on your tree. They should be in good working order and in good condition.

What to do with your tree after Christmas

After the Christmas season, check your decorations and dispose of any electrical items that are showing wear. Pack your decorations carefully and store them in a cool dry place. Storing decorations in a hot attic may cause electrical components to develop problems.

Recycle your tree. On January 5th, The Bay County Solid Waste Department will chip up Christmas trees at the Bay County Fair Grounds. Bring your tree(s) and have them chipped up. The Bay County Master Gardeners will be there to assist and help distribute pamphlets on the use of tree chippings.

By following theses simple steps, your Christmas tree should be a source of trouble free pleasure throughout the holiday season.

Source: Choosing and caring for your Christmas tree, Ken Rudisill, Bay County Horticulture Agent, November, 2001.,Tis the season to choose a Christmas tree, Theresa Friday, Santa Rosa Horticulture Agent, November, 2006. Christmas tree facts, George Kessler, Extension Forester, University of Illinois, www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees/treefacts, Effects of water addictives on Fraser Fir Needled Retention, L.E. Hinsley, Sylvia M. Blankenship, HortTechnology, Oct./Dec, 1991.