Christmas Trees

By Nicole Stoner Now that Thanksgiving is over, we will all be getting our holiday decorations out, if you haven’t already started. It’s a great time to go out on Thanksgiving weekend to pick out a Christmas tree for the holiday season. Christmas TreesAccording to South Dakota State University Extension, Christmas trees have been decorated since the 1500s with earlier religious uses in Rome and Europe. The use of Christmas trees in Europe was popularized by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert before being brought to the United States during the American Revolution. Christmas trees became popular throughout the United States during the 1800s. South Dakota State University Extension also estimates that approximately 25-30 million real Christmas Trees and approximately 20 million artificial trees are sold in the United States each year. According to the University of Illinois, for every live Christmas tree that is harvested 1-3 seedlings are planted the following spring to replace those that were harvested. Tree SelectionThe most common tree species used for Christmas trees include: Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Noble Fir, Scotch Pine, Virginia Pine and White Pine. If you have a lot of heavy ornaments, look for a Fraser Fir, Scotch pine, blue spruce or Black Hills spruce because they have stiff branches that will hold ornaments better. Balsam Fir is the choice for those looking for a Christmas tree scent. White pines can be used for areas where you prefer softer needles.When choosing your tree, assess the tree’s condition. Walk around the tree to look for holes in the branching. Slightly tug on the needles that are on the tree to ensure they are tightly attached to the tree and have some flexibility. If the needles fall off with limited tugging, they are not going to last long in your home. Also, give the tree a good shake, if green needles fall off or if it has a lighter green color that is not a fresh tree. Brown needles will naturally fall from the interior of the tree, that doesn’t mean there is a problem with it. It is best to get a tree from a local grower to help with the local economy and to ensure freshest tree selection. Home CareWhen you take your tree home, make a new cut on the stump of the tree to ensure a flat surface to sit on and to open the pores at the base of the cut stump to allow water to flow through the tree. After cutting, be sure to place the tree into a bucket of water or into the stand with water immediately. If you do not plan to put your Christmas tree up in the home right away, place it in a cool, dark location, out of sunlight until you are able to put it in your home. Place the tree in a stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water and be sure to add water daily. Recycling Christmas TreesRemember to recycle your tree when the holidays are over. Christmas trees can be chipped now and stored to be used as mulch in your landscapes next spring. Christmas trees can be placed in designated areas at local lakes and ponds to provide new fish habitat in the spring when the ice melts and the trees fall into the water. Trees can also be made into bird habitat by placing them outdoors with decorations such as oranges, berries, popcorn, and bird seed. Finally, trees can be pruned up and used as a trellis for vertical gardening. If you have any further questions please contact Nicole Stoner at (402) 223-1384, nstoner2@unl.edu, visit the Gage County Extension website at www.gage.unl.edu, or like my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NicoleStonerHorticulture and follow me on twitter @Nikki_Stoner

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