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Community Corner

O, Christmas Tree! How to Pick the Perfect Holiday Pine

A how-to guide to find the best tree for your family, plus tips for taking care of it in your home.

America’s Christmas tree farmers are in full swing to provide a true "real green" product that creates jobs, is grown on plantations in the USA and is recyclable. And, yes, the trees will make our homes look and smell festive for a few joyous weeks.

Lots everywhere are offering a wide variety of species. To help select your favorite tree, the characteristics of the more popular species are listed here.

Douglas fir: This tree is generally available as a sheared tree and is the most common species found on tree lots.

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It has a nice fragrance and a medium-to-good shelf life. Because of the thick, bushy crowns, they do not lend themselves to large or heavy decorations. 

This species is the easiest to grow because it is relatively problem-free. It requires 7-8 years to mature as a Christmas tree.

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Noble fir: This species is considered the “Cadillac” of Christmas trees. It grows in a more open pattern, has stout branches, luxurious green needles, a long shelf life and has a nice fragrance. It is popular with families that have large or heavy ornaments.

The Noble fir is the most expensive tree because it takes 8-10 years to mature and is the most difficult species to grow. 

Grand fir: This sheared tree is the most fragrant of the native species. It has an attractive needle that makes it a popular choice as a flocked tree.

Grand fir trees require 8-9 years to grow and have a medium shelf life.

Fraser fir: This North Carolina native has strong branches that will hold heavier ornaments. The needles have a pleasant fragrance and a long shelf life comparable to a noble fir.

Fraser fir trees are difficult to grow because of the many pests that threaten them. They require 8-10 years before they are ready for harvest.

Norway and blue spruce trees: These are generally available only at choose-and-cut farms. They will hold heavy decorations. Some consumers think they are "child and pet proof" because of the stiff, prickly needles.

Spruces require eight to nine years to mature as Christmas trees and have a medium shelf life.

Proper Tree Care

Once home, cut a quarter inch off the butt and place the tree in a water stand. The stand should be large enough to hold at least one gallon of water after the tree is placed in it. Check the water level daily. A typical six-foot tree can drink one gallon of water each day and remain fresh for 2-3 weeks.

Years of Hard Work

A tree farmer invests many dollars and hard work for 6-10 years before earning any return. Not all trees will be salable. Some will die while others may be damaged by insects or diseases before they reach harvest size. 

For example, out of 1,000 trees planted, 900-950 Douglas firs may be salable. However, only 700-800 nobles may be marketable because of losses to the above factors. Therefore, a grower needs to receive more money for nobles than Douglas firs to make them profitable to grow.

Do Trees Really Cost So Much?

One interesting way to view prices is to look at how much a tree costs and how long it can be enjoyed by a family compared to other activities.

For example, if you pay $30 for a Douglas fir or $60 for a noble, they will bring joy and good smells to your home for two or more weeks. If you spend $30 to feed a family of four at a fast-food establishment or $60 to attend a movie and eat popcorn, the enjoyment may last from 1-4 hours.

When viewed in that perspective, trees are a pretty good bargain for the time that they bring enjoyment to millions of families.

Dennis Tompkins is a certified arborist, and a nationally recognized expert and consultant to the Christmas tree industry. Contact him at 253 863-7469 or email at dlt@blarg.net. Or visit his website at evergreen-arborist.com.

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