The holiday season is upon us, and for many it is time to set out and find that fresh Christmas tree. In Minnesota, Christmas tree selection at a local farm or lot includes choosing from an array of evergreens that include Scots pine, Norway pine, white pine, white spruce, Colorado spruce, balsam fir, Canaan fir, or Fraser fir. University of Minnesota Extension horticulturist, Kathy Zuzek gives us a look at what some of the attributes for each tree might be, and tips for keeping that tree green and healthy throughout the season.
No one likes a Christmas tree that drops its needles too early during the 4-5 weeks of the holiday season. Pines have the best overall needle retention followed by the firs and then the spruces. Check the freshness of the tree you have selected before leaving the tree lot by shaking it or running your hand gently over a branch and watching for the amount of needle drop. A few needles dropping from the outer edges of the tree branches is to be expected, large amounts of needle drop may be cause for concern. Needles and branch ends should feel flexible rather than dry and brittle. More important than the selection of tree species though is the care that you give to your tree after you leave the tree lot or farm. If your drive home from the tree lot involves highway speeds and is over 15 minutes long, try to transport your tree inside of a vehicle or wrapped in a tarp on top of your vehicle to prevent wind desiccation (drying). Cut one inch off of the bottom of your tree immediately before putting it into your tree stand so that the tree can continue to take up water. Add water to the tree stand immediately and check the water level 2-3 times per day for the first few days and daily after that, always keeping the water level above the base of the tree. Fresh trees can use one quart of water per inch of trunk diameter each day so be sure to use a tree stand that holds enough water for a 24-hour period. If the stand goes dry, water uptake will stop and your tree will desiccate rapidly. The best placement of your tree to prevent desiccation is away from direct sunlight, heaters, furnace vents, and fireplaces.
Balsam firs are often mentioned as the most fragrant of Christmas trees, followed closely by the other firs and white pine. Canaan firs have become popular Christmas trees because customers often say the Canaan fir combines the silvery beauty of a Fraser fir with the appealing scent of a balsam fir. On the flip side, many feel the crushed needles of white or Colorado spruce is an unpleasant scent.
If you decorate with heavy ornaments, consider buying a Scots pine or a Colorado spruce; their stiff branches will support such ornaments. Fraser fir has the sturdiest branches of the firs. White pine is best decorated with lightweight ornaments, bows, and ribbons because of its soft flexible branches.
White spruce has the shortest needle length, about ½ inch, followed by the 1-inch needles of Colorado spruce and the firs. The needle length of Scots, white, and Norway pine are 2-3 inches, 3-4 inches, and 4-6 inches, respectively. If you are looking for a child- or pet-proof tree, try a Colorado spruce with its stiff pointed needles or a Scots pine with its rigid needles. If it is pain-free decorating you are after, choose one of the firs or a white pine as they are all known for the softness of their needles.
As you search for the perfect Christmas tree, consider all of the factors including price, tree color, fragrance, branch stiffness, and needle softness, length and retention. Typically, Scots pine is the most inexpensive of Christmas trees while Colorado spruce and Fraser Fir are often the most expensive species. Trees are generally priced by specie, then by size, the taller the tree, the higher the cost.
If a large Christmas tree is a little too daunting to care for, but you still enjoy a fresh tree during the holidays, consider a table top holiday plant such as a tropical houseplant, a potted white spruce or a potted Norfolk Island pine. These plants are often simpler to care for as they are much smaller, but still create a festive spirit for the holiday season. Happy holidays and happy decorating.