‘Tis the season to pick up your Christmas tree, but let us help with the big decision.
Jason Cameron, host of DIY Network’s “Desperate Landscapes,” “Man Caves” and “Sledgehammer,” stopped by the plaza to share what you need to know about Christmas trees, from what to buy to how to care for it.
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Read on and good luck!
Types of trees
There are several types of trees waiting at your local tree lot, so which one is best for you? Here are the details on five popular types and what you can expect from each.
Douglas fir
While it’s not a true fir tree, the Douglas fir is one of the top Christmas tree species in the country. It has soft needles with good retention, which means less time you need to spend cleaning needles off the floor.
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Fraser fir
With its dark blue-green color, Fraser firs have a beautiful shape, good needle retention and strong branches for your ornaments.
Blue spruce
Also called a Colorado blue spruce, these trees are very popular for Christmas as they have nice symmetry and beautiful blue foliage. They also have excellent needle retention and very strong branches, making it a perfect match for those with heavy ornaments.
Leyland cypress
If your family has sap allergies, this is the tree for you as the Leyland cypress doesn’t produce sap. It also has very little aroma, so if you don’t like that Christmas tree smell, consider this tree.
White pine
Like the Leyland cypress, white pine trees have very little smell, so it’s a good choice for those who are allergic to the odor or are not a fan. You can also expect soft, flexible needs and a blue/green color.
Caring for your tree
Now that you have your tree, let’s work on keeping it alive through the holiday season. Here are Cameron’s tips:
- Provide plenty of water. As a rule of thumb, provide 1 quart of water per inch of trunk diameter. The water temperature is not important.
- Use a stand that fits your tree. Do not have outer layers of the trunk to fit a smaller stand, as those layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water.
- Make a fresh, perpendicular cut to the bottom of the trunk before placing it in the tree stand.
- Do not drill holes in the trunk. It will not improve water uptake!
- Keep trees away from major sources of heat, and use Christmas tree lights that produce low heat.