How to choose your perfect Christmas tree
By Kathleen Collins
NORTHEAST OHIO — Celebrating the holiday season with a live Christmas tree is a long-standing tradition for many families. Close to 33 million American families celebrate the holiday season with a fresh, farm-grown Christmas tree each year.
According George Haramis, co-owner of Heritage Farms in Peninsula, people will buy their trees as early as the weekend before Thanksgiving. Whether it’s a precut tree or one that is cut at the time of purchase, the tree usually will last the same amount of time as long as it is kept watered. He said the busiest weekends are usually the first two weeks in December.
“Whether people buy their tree the weekend of Thanksgiving or closer to Christmas, what matters is how they treat the tree when they get home,” said Haramis. “Keeping the tree watered is very important.”
What’s popular this year?
“Scotch pines seem to be the most popular right now,” said Haramis. “But Fraser fir is coming up in popularity.”
Consider these guidelines from Haramis before selecting a Christmas tree:
• Be sure to know what size (height and width) you will need before heading to a retail lot or tree farm.
• Go to a retail lot or tree farm that is well-lit and stores trees in a shaded area.
• Often, a tree obtained soon after its arrival on a retail lot or tree farm will be very fresh because it was cut recently. Consumers should ask the retailer when the business received the trees.
• Do a freshness test on the trees. The needles on the tree should be resilient. Hold a branch about 6 inches from the tip. Pull your hand toward the tip, allow the branch to slip through your fingers. Most of the needles should adhere to the branch and not fall off in your hand. Lift the tree a couple of inches off the ground, then bring it down abruptly on the stump end. While the inside needles do turn brown and shed naturally every year, the outside green needles should not fall off in substantial numbers. Ask the tree provider to shake your tree to remove needles from prior year’s growth cycles. A good rule-of-thumb is, when in doubt about the freshness of a tree, select another one. If none of the trees on the lot look fresh, go to another lot. Some species last longer and remain fresh much longer than others.
• Remember that different types of trees have different characteristics. Some kinds of trees hold their needles much longer than others. Some trees have soft branches that require light, feathery ornaments and others are made for heavier ornaments. Be sure to ask the tree provider what the characteristics are of each of the kinds of trees he or she is selling. That information will help you decide which is the better choice for your home, ornaments and celebration plans.
• Keep the tree in a cool, shady place, such as the garage or porch, until you’re ready to bring it indoors and decorate it.
• Saw a thin disk (1/4 inch) off the trunk prior to placing the tree in a water-holding stand. Make a cut perpendicular to the axis of the stem, not at angles or a v-shaped cut. Usually the place were you buy the tree will do this for you.
• Make sure to place the tree in its water-holding stand within four to six hours after making a cut to the trunk. Your stand must be able to hold enough water for the size of the tree. A good rule of thumb is 1 quart capacity for every inch of diameter of the trunk. Water temperature makes no difference. Do not add anything to the water, such as bleach, aspirin, fertilizer or other things. Plain tap water is fine.
• Check water levels often in the first few days. A tree will absorb the most water after it is recently cut and placed in water.
• Make sure the tree is displayed in a place away from heat and draft sources. Be extra careful with electricity, all open flames and other heat sources during the holidays. Check all Christmas tree lights, other electric decorations and electrical appliances for wear (frayed cords, for example). Do not use lights, decorations or appliances with worn electrical cords. Use only UL-approved electrical decorations and extension cords. Unplug tree lights and other decorations when you are out of the room or sleeping.
• Ask the retailer about recycling Christmas trees in your community. Consumers can locate the nearest recycling program by logging onto www.realchristmastrees.org or calling (800) CLEANUP.
Locally, Metro Parks, Serving Summit County offers tree recycling. Trees, cleaned of all decorations and tinsel, can be dropped off at the following locations Dec. 26 through Jan. 31:
√ Firestone Metro Park, Little Turtle Pond Area, 2400 Harrington Road in South Akron;
√ Furnace Run Metro Park, Brushwood Area, 4955 Townsend Road in Richfield; √ Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 2077 Newton St. in East Akron;
√ Sand Run Metro Park, Treaty Line Area, 995 Treaty Line Road in West Akron; and
√ Silver Creek Metro Park, Big Oak Area, 5199 Medina Line Road in Norton.
For more details, call Metro Parks at (330) 867-5511.
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