Think Green this Holiday Season with a Real Christmas Tree!

Our plant pick of the week is very simple.It’s the LIVE ‘Cut’ Christmas Tree.Ah-h-h-h, the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree; it’s the only way to go for the Holidays. There are many different types to choose from, including White Pine ( long soft needles and dense branches), Black Hills Spruce( shorter stiff needles), Balsam Fir (the original Christmas tree, fragrant softer short needles), Canaan Fir, Douglas Fir (sweetly fragrant soft flexible needles), and the 2 most popular cut Christmas trees, the Scotch Pine (longest lasting medium length needles and stiff branching for those heavier ornaments),and Fraser Fir (fragrantsoft blue green needles, good branching habit for ornaments).Choosing a tree becomes personal taste and likes. So, why should you choose live vs artificial?Please, keep reading!

Real Trees are an eco-friendly choice!

-Renewable, recyclable, or plantable (live) natural product grown on farms throughout N. America.Approx. 350 million trees are growing on tree farms as of right now.

-U.S. and Canada product grown as a sustainable crop, which takes multiple years of culturing and work to bring into the market (average of 7-10 years) – grown in all 50 states. Top producers are Oregon, N. Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington.

-Christmas tree farms help sustain the rural economy and provide jobs (approx. 15,000 Christmas tree growers in the U.S. / over 100,000 employed in the industry).

-Tree farms stabilize the soil, protect water supplies, and support eco-systems.

-The environmental impact of growing and harvesting that tree is positive.

-They take in carbon dioxide and harmful gases and release fresh oxygen into the air / an acre of trees provides enough oxygen for 18 people.

-For every real tree harvested, 1- 3 seedlings are planted in its place every spring.

-Real (cut) trees are 100% bio degradable – live trees are plantable.

(Vs. Artificial - non renewable, non biodegradable, non recyclable plastic and metal product (and may contain PVC), and mostly (about 85%) are manufactured in China)

Real Trees are a traditional choice!

-Family event / tradition choosing the family’s real tree.

-Different types of real trees to choose from (cut and live).

-Fresh holiday scents / natural decoration indoors.

-Putting up and decorating a real tree is a time honored tradition.

Real Trees just keep on giving!

-“Live” - Use it indoors as your Real Christmas tree - plant it outdoors after the holidays.Your real (live) tree will keep growing for years to come, impacting the environment in a positive manner as well as serving as a reminder of your family’s holiday season.

-“Cut” – After using it indoors, think of ways to reuse your tree, including cutting up the branches to use as winter protection for perennials, for decorating planters over the winter,habitat for birds / feeding station,as natural habitat for fish (sunk in ponds and lakes), or chipped up and recycled as mulch for the garden, landscape, pathways, etc.

It only makes sense.Your environmentally friendly and traditional choice is a natural and recyclable (or plantable) real tree this Holiday Season!

Visit www.christmastree.org or www.ohiochristmastree.com for more information.

Choosing and Care of a Cut Christmas Tree

Things to consider when picking the right tree:

1.)Give the tree a needle check for freshness.Take a needle off the tree and flex it between your fore-finger and thumb.If it’s fresh, it’ll bend and spring back.Try gently pulling on a branch allowing it to slide through your hand.If you have a handful of needles, that’s not the tree for you!And last, pick up the tree and gently thump the bottom against the ground.Some needles will fall, but it should only be a few.

2.)Next, measure the tree to be sure it fits in your home.If you don’t, I guarantee it’ll be bigger at home than it is here at the tree lot!

3.)Bring your tree stand along just to make sure it fits, but don’t put it in the stand permanently until you’re ready to put it up in the house.

4.)If you’re going to put the tree up when you get home, have the folks at the tree lot put a fresh flat cut on the bottom, removing about 1 inch.Then sleeve the tree for transporting home.If you’re not going to put it up right away, do not put a fresh cut the bottom.

Caring for your cut tree:[A Christmas tree is a living thing; treat it as you would a cut flower to keep it fresh].

1.)If you buy your tree several days before setting it up, store it outdoors in a cool and shady place, protected from wind and sun.You may want to make a fresh flat cut on the butt of the tree (remove about 1 inch), and store upright in a container of water.

2.)Spray your tree with WiltStop.This seals moisture in the needles, keeping your tree fresher, longer.Do this before bringing the tree into the house.(Use WiltStop on all your fresh Holiday greens.)

3.)When you bring the tree inside for decorating, make another fresh flat cut at the base before placing it in the stand.If you’re going right from our tree lot to the indoors (within 6-8 hours), our garden pros will make the fresh flat cut for you.

4.)Place a ‘tree disposal bag’ around the base of your tree before putting the tree in the stand.This bag will help make clean up easier after the holidays are over.

5.)Your new tree is thirsty!After placing your tree in the stand, add warm water (containing ‘Keep it Green’ Christmas tree preservative) to the stand immediately, and be prepared to add this water solution daily, or as needed.Do not let the stand go dry.Once dry, the bottom of the tree will seal back over and no longer take up water.

6.)Place your cut tree away from fireplaces, radiators, heat ducts, and any other source of heat.Even in front of picture windows exposed to the sun will heat up.

7.)Remember to check your Christmas lights for safety, and turn them off when the tree is unattended.And continue to check your tree for freshness.Use good judgment when deciding if a tree is too dry and needs to be taken down.

After the Christmas holiday:

1.)Place your tree outdoors to make a shelter for birds and other wildlife.

2.)Participate in a park or city program that shreds trees for use as mulch.

3.)Cut the boughs off and use them to winter mulch perennials.

4.)Think of other ways to use your tree, rather than sending it to the landfill.

5.)Do not burn your tree in the fireplace.

Ron Wilson

About Ron Wilson