Christmas Tree Selection & Care

A flocked tree at Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

Christmas trees are pricey so it makes sense to do your homework before you shell out your hard earned cash. Here’s some information on cut, flocked and living Christmas trees (they have not been cut and are grown in containers) and their care.  

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Cut Christmas Trees

Cut Christmas trees ready to be sold.

Tree farms grow a variety of coniferous evergreen trees for Christmas. They often clipped in summer to create denser branches and better form. Picking out the right tree is a tricky thing. Mostly everyone wants an ideal shaped tree with full sturdy branches that don’t droop with heavy ornaments. Good needle retention is essential, while fragrance is a bonus. 

Don't forget to compensate for the tree topper and tree stand while measuring for the right size of tree.

Measure: Measure the area where you will be placing the tree. Don’t forget to include space for the tree topper and its tree stand. Include the available width of the area, as some trees can engulf a room. It’s a good idea to bring the measuring tape when you go tree hunting. It’s uncanny how a perfectly sized tree miraculously grows to twice its size by the time you get it home.
Needle Test: They should feel supple, not dry or crispy and they shouldn’t snap easily when bent. Give the tree a shake to check for excessive needle drop. 

Needles should be supple, flexible and stay on the tree when held.

Noble Fir

• best needle retention
• bluish-green fragrant foliage that twists upwards
• good branch spacing
• sturdy, dense and stiff branches
• retains water well extending its longevity
• expensive but most desirable

Grand Fir

• excellent needle retention
• shiny, deep green needles that are soft and flat
• the most fragrant of all Christmas trees

A Noble fir growing in the wild. Christmas tree farms prune their trees so they are full and compact.

Grand fir needles have excellent needle retention. They are also soft and very fragrant.

Douglas Fir

• fair needle retention
• soft light green needles
• lax branches not suitable for heavy ornaments
• citrusy fragrance
• economical 

Douglas fir is fragrant, not as expensive as other trees, and is suitable for light ornaments.

Fraser Fir

• excellent needle retention
• sturdy, dense branches and short needles
• fragrant, soft, flat, dark green needles with silver undersides

Balsam Fir

• good needle retention
• delightful fragrance
• flat dark green needles with a rounded or notched tip
• not suitable for heavy ornaments

Fraser fir has excellent needle retention, is fragrant and has many branches for ornaments.

Concolor Fir, White Fir

• 2 to 3 inch long blue-silver needles
• good needle retention
• dense growth, holds ornaments well
• citrus like scent

Nordmann Fir

• excellent needle retention
• soft glossy dark green leaves of medium length
• dense foliage

Spruce needles are sharp and are a good deterrent for pets.

Blue Spruce

• silver blue foliage
• stiff branches suitable for ornaments
• needles are sharp

Black Hiills Spruce

• shorter and softer needles that the Colorado blue spruce
• stiff branches suitable for ornaments
• Sturdy branches spaces far apart suitable for large and heavy ornaments

​White Spruce

• slender but strong branches suitable for ornaments
• dense, dark green, curved foliage
• thirsty tree, uses lots of water so check it regularly

White spruce have sturdy branches suitable for heavy ornaments.

White Pine

• dense tree with soft green foliage
• soft needles clusters of five
• its long, flexible needles make it difficult to add ornaments

Scots Pine

• excellent needle retention
• dense dark green needles in clusters of two
• stiff branches 

Colorado Blue Spruce bear distinctive silver blue foliage.

Pines, like this white pine, has soft needles in clusters of 5, which are difficult to decorate.

Scots Pine have good needle retention and stiff, dense branches.

Flocked Christmas Trees

Flocked trees last longer as the flocking seals in moisture and includes a fire retardant.

Snow covered (flocked) Christmas trees are coated with an anti-flammable, non-toxic mixture made from fiber, corn starch and boron. The boron is a flame retardant. Flocking locks in moisture extending the tree's freshness. 

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Christmas Tree Care

• To keep the tree intact and for easier transport, have it wrapped before taking it home.
• Cut a couple of inches from the cut end of the tree trunk. The tree vendor will do this for you if you don’t want to do yourself at home.
• It the tree end is not cut it will not be able to absorb water and it lose its needles prematurely and be a fire hazard.
• Place the cut end into a large bucket of water. The tree will be really thirsty as this is its first time to have a drink since it was cut down. A freshly cut tree can drink a gallon of water in 24 hours.
• Keep it in a cool, shady place outside for 24 hours.
• To protect the tree from drying out and premature needle drop, spray with an anti-desiccant such as Wilt Pruf.
• Select a spot inside the house for the tree that’s away from heating vents, radiators, fireplaces and other sources of heat. 
• Place the tree in its tree stand and fill with water. The bigger the water reservoir the better.
• If the water level falls below the cut stem, it will reseal itself impeding water intake. If this happens, it must be recut again. That is not a doable thing with a decorated Christmas tree so check on the water level daily. Keep a watering can full of water close by. 

Cut off a couple of inches from the cut end of the tree trunk before putting it in water.

Disposing Of Cut Trees

• Many municipalities will take them on garbage day for recycling.
• Lay them in the garden where their needles will become mulch.
• Use their stems can be used as trellises and supports for vining plants.
• Prop the tree in the garden for birds to use as perches. Add suet, pine cones smothered with peanut butter and bird seed.
• Cut it up and use for your fireplace.
• Remove the tree’s branches and lay them on top of tender plants to protect them during the winter.
• Use the foliage in sachets and potpourris. 

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Living Christmas Trees

Keep living Christmas trees, like this dwarf Alberta spruce, inside for a maximum of 10 days. Any longer and it will break dormancy resulting in a very sick plant and even death.

A living Christmas tree has not been cut and is grown in a container. Once the holidays are over either plant it in the garden or keep it in the container for next year. Container grown Christmas trees need to be either root pruned or repotted into a larger pot as they will outgrow their pot.

• Keep it outside for as long as you can so it stays fresher longer.
• To protect the tree from drying out spray with an anti-desiccant such as Wilt Pruf to reduce moisture lost through the foliage.
• Before bringing inside, acclimatize it in an unheated garage or protected location or a few days.
• Place a drainage tray under the container to prevent a mess when watering.
• Water regularly to keep the soil moist; don’t let it dry out.
• Can’t be kept inside for more than 10 days as start to grow, breaking their dormancy, ultimately killing it.

• Before placing the tree outside permanently, do so gradually by placing it in a cool room, then an unheated garage, then outside against the house. Don’t forget to water.