Who doesn’t want the authenticity of a real Christmas tree sitting in their front room?
One of my family’s oldest traditions, and some of my fondest childhood memories, are heading out to one of our local tree farms and picking out the perfect tree! My dad loved the tall ones. It was so exciting trying to find the tallest, fullest, most beautiful tree. One year we had a 12 foot tree. Now, my childhood home was not a big one; It barely fit in our front door let alone our front room! Nevertheless, we wanted the tallest and biggest tree to match just how big our love for the Christmas season was.
If you and your family are planning on trying out a real tree, here are some things you should know!
Types of Trees.
There are tons of evergreen trees out there! And my family has probably tried a new one every year. From soft needles, to dense spiky needles; from spruces and pines to firs! Make sure you check with your local tree farms to see what types of trees they carry, and do your research ahead of time to decide which type of tree you might want.
If you have younger children planning on helping decorate the tree, or who just can’t leave the ornaments on the tree (like mine), a softer needled tree would might be better so they don’t prick their fingers.
This year we picked out a Fraser Fir. It’s a popular American Fir that doesn’t drop it’s needles as quickly as some of the others. The needles are softer, and not super long, so it’s easy and painless for hanging ornaments. It has a narrow base, which is perfect for tight spaces, especially when your family likes tall trees, like mine! The tall stem on the top makes it perfect for any tree topper, whether it be a star, angel, or cute Christmas bow. But my absolute favorite thing (about any real tree), is the lovely aromatic smell. As soon as we brought it inside and poured the hot water in the base, it filled the room with a wonderful fragrance. I definitely recommend a Fraser Fir.
Tree Care.
Just like any plant, Christmas trees have specific routines of care. But, since they only last for a small season, they are much easier to take care of.
Before you bring your tree home, you will want to make sure you have a proper base. The size of your tree will depend on the size of your base. One of the main benefits to having a bigger base is that is holds more water. It is important to water your tree daily with cold water.
When you find your perfect tree, you will want to make sure the bottom is pretty level, so that your tree will sit properly in your base, and doesn’t lean really bad. Most tree farms will level your tree trunk for you before you head home. In my experience we almost always have to do a little more leveling when we get home. It’s no fault of the tree farms. It’s hard to get it just right. So just be prepared to do a little extra shaving.
If your tree farm doesn’t have the ability to cut your trunk, or you buy your tree from the pre-cut section, it’s important for you to shave 1-2 inches off of the bottom. The sap seals once it’s been cut down. So a fresh cut is necessary and beneficial. Once you cut your tree and place it securely in your base, pour some hot water in the reservoir. The tree might soak it up really quickly, so be prepared to refill it with more. This is the only time you use hot water.
After you’ve balanced and watered your tree, you are ready to go! Decorate however you’d like. Here’s a look at my parent’s tree this year!
Clean up.
Once the holiday season is over, it’s time to dispose of your tree. By then it will probably be starting to dry out a little, and some of the needles falling off. Check in with your city management on Christmas tree disposal. Most cities have a specific day or time frame. Some have a designated spot you can haul it off to, and some even come pick them up.
Once your tree is out of the house it’s time to clean up the needles. Try sweeping up as much of them as you can, before pulling out the vacuum, as it’s probably not the best thing for your vacuum.
Merry Christmas!