Every year, millions of families buy live Christmas trees from tree farms. For many people, going to the tree farm every year to pick a Christmas tree is also a memory to cherish. If you want to choose a living tree, here’s what you need to know.
Advantages of a live Christmas tree
The real tree will emit a strong pine scent, adding vitality to the festive atmosphere.
Improve the indoor environment, which can convert indoor carbon dioxide into oxygen. To achieve the effect of purifying the air and promoting natural health.
Prices are relatively cheap, with a standard-sized 5- to 8-foot fresh Christmas tree costing less than $100.
It is more environmentally friendly, which is controversial. Cutting down trees does not seem to be environmentally friendly. But in fact, more than 350 million trees are currently planted on Christmas tree farms across the United States, and only a fraction of them are harvested yearly. And real trees are fully biodegradable. When it is time to dispose of them, trees can be converted into mulch or compost soil.
Disadvantages of a live Christmas tree
It needs to be well taken care of and a real tree needs to be supported by a tree stand and water supply to ensure that the tree does not wilt during the Christmas season. It will also lose its leaves, so in addition to regular watering, you must sweep the leaves regularly.
Allergens and bugs can quickly be brought in. Since real trees usually come directly from forestry, trees can easily carry some unwanted friends.
If they are not sturdy enough, you need to be careful about the weight when hanging decorations, otherwise, the branches may be crushed.
Types of Live Christmas Trees
There are four main types of Christmas trees: fir, cypress, pine, and spruce. Fir is by far the most common tree on the market and can be considered the most traditional Christmas tree. Secondly, spruce is also popular, especially Norway spruce, because it is easy to grow and inexpensive.
If you want to hang heavier ornaments, choosing blue spruce or Scots pine would be the right choice. Because their branches are more sturdy. But spruce trees have sharp needles that can hurt when you accidentally touch them. If you don’t like this feature, you can choose pine trees or firs with soft needles. Another outstanding advantage of fir is the stronger aroma.
Based on the above, we can conclude. Among the various Christmas trees, fir and pine are good choices, while spruce is less important.
How to choose a live Christmas tree
Fresh Christmas trees often have sap flowing out of the trunk. Trees also rarely have dead, yellow needles on them. The first thing you can do is gently run your hand through the branches, and if a lot of needles have fallen off, then the tree is not fresh.
Or you can pick the tree up and gently tap the ground with the bottom of the tree. If only a little bit of needles fall off, then the tree is fresh. However, it is important to note that this method only works with small trees.
Pick off the needles and break them off by hand. If the needles of the fir can be broken, it means the tree is fresh. On the other hand, fresh pine needles will bend and not break.
Look at the trunk. If there are spots on the trunk, it means the tree is either sick or was cut down a long time ago. Smell it. If you smell mold, that’s a bad sign.
Christmas trees need to look plump and vibrant. The needles should be brightly colored and the trunk should be sturdy to support the various decorations.
Size Choice
In general, a minimum of 5 feet should be left between the top of the Christmas tree and the ceiling. However, this does not include the height of the water dispenser under the tree or the tree top decoration, so it is important to consider the specifics of your home. Again, the lower circumference of the tree, the widest circumference is what we should consider. There should be 3 inches of space between the walls, furniture, fireplace, and tree.
How to maintain a live Christmas tree
When the fresh Christmas tree comes home, you will need to cut the trunk off less than an inch from the bottom. To make the trunk more absorbent, carefully place it in water within four hours of cutting. Avoid plugging the cut with tree sap to prevent water absorption. Water the tree with warm water the first time, then twice a day. Keep the bottom of the trunk moist. Be careful not to place fresh Christmas trees in hot places such as fireplaces or vents, or the trunk and leaves will dry out quickly.
What to do with a live Christmas tree after the holidays
There are two ways to do this. One is to recycle. Communities across the country offer recycling stations or collection points and trees are often turned into mulch or fertilizer and made available to local governments. Second, burn them to wood. Branches can be cut down, divided into small sections, and stored in portable storage sheds to be used when the wood is completely dry.
