Christmas Tree Selection Time Again

Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the holiday season, including finding the perfect Christmas tree. Most area cut-your-own tree farms will be opening, along with many retail lots. While all are evergreens, all Christmas trees are not the same.

Pines, the most commonly planted species of Christmas trees in the North Central United States, are a popular group. Pines have longer needles than the other species and typically appear "full" because of the arrangement of needles and branches. Scotch or Scots pine is popular and very common in tree lots and on cut-your-own farms. As with most trees, a number of cultivars are available, varying in color, needle length and overall appearance.

Other pines include white, red and Austrian pine. White pine has good color and soft needles. Branches are relatively weak and do not support heavy loads of ornaments, but it still is an excellent tree and does not readily dry out indoors. Red and Austrian pines have longer needles, with red usually being a more open tree and Austrian having very stiff needles.

Firs, which have short, flat needles, make up another popular group of Christmas trees. Balsam fir is a traditional favorite, with excellent fragrance and form. Fraser fir, which features excellent color and fragrance, has been increasing in popularity. Douglas fir, not actually a true fir, also has visual appeal and good needle retention.

Finally, spruces have short needles and branches that hold loads of decorations well. White spruce and Norway spruce have been traditional favorites, but needle retention is poor for both once the tree is cut and brought inside. Colorado blue spruce, a common landscape tree, has increased in popularity as a Christmas tree. This species has the best needle retention of the spruces, with the needles being rather stiff and branches rather rigid.

When trying to decide on which tree to get, survey the family and then survey the Christmas tree farm or retail lot. With all of these choices, you can't go wrong! Get out early to take advantage of more favorable weather and better selection than what may be the case later in December.

For an updated listing of Christmas Tree Farms visit our Christmas Trees & More web site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees or call our office, 773-233-0476, for a current list.

Source: Bruce Spangenberg, Extension Educator, Horticulture

Winter 2000
Christmas Tree Selection Time Again | Gifts for Gardeners | Holiday Season Pet Hazards | Prepare Your Garden For Winter | All America Vegetable Selections 2001 | Lawn Care Calendar | Bug Bites: Unwanted Visitors That Are Lurking In Your Firewood | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Tips | Hort Shorts | Garlic's Benefits Attract Researchers | Cranberries | Let the Buyer Beware | Roasting Chestnuts | Health and Household Tips | Did You Know?

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