KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – Fresh trees for Christmas
I am a big fan of real trees for Christmas. Nothing smells better than that crisp pine fragrance from a real tree. Many of my family and friends like the convenience of an artificial tree. For one you can put it out and not take it down for a month, not so with a fresh one. We have made picking out the tree and bringing it home a holiday tradition. Complete with fights with my husband over the size (I’m all for bigger), but never the type. We are Frasier fir fans. Their blue green color and short dense needles are best in my book. But I’m sure many folks go with the one they remember from childhood. I’ve tried to cut our own down, not a big fan. Living in the city it requires several hours travel and search, too much for me. I’m sure many people think an artificial tree is better for the environment as you use the same tree for many years. I’m thinking real trees are actually more environmentally positive and recyclable. Real trees manufacture oxygen their whole growing time. There are many cities and villages that will mulch the tree for you after the season. It makes great mulch. Artificial trees are made of chemicals that are not environmentally friendly and not recyclable.
Trees from neighborhood lots are very nice but are usually quite pricey, charging by the foot. We always bought there before trees became more widely available at retail outlets. I’ve had better luck at home centers like Menards and Home Depot. They have a wide variety of tree types and sizes. They always have my favorite the Frasier Fir at a reasonable price. You can also find them at Costco and Sam’s Club, they tend to be on the larger size there.
Choosing a fresh tree is a lot of common sense. Keep in mind the space where you are placing the tree. Don’t over buy. Think of your space. I was showing a client a condo last week that had a tree that literally took up 25% of a small living room, ridiculous! When you find the tree you want, grasp the tree by the trunk and bang it on the ground. Some needles will fall but there should not be too many. Run your hands down the branches. They should be soft and pliable not brittle. If you have the store cut the trunk, make sure it’s at least two inches and get it home in a bucket of water as soon as possible. It’s best to do it at home if you’re able.
Leave the tree outside or in the garage in a bucket if you’re not ready to trim it that day. Bring it in and give it several hours to relax and warm up before trimming. Keep as far away as possible from registers and radiators. Keep away from open flames such as fireplaces and candles. Check the water level twice a day for the first two days and once a day thereafter. Many trees will suck up a gallon of water or more in the first couple of days. Never let the water get below the cut! It will seal up! If you have toddlers around consider putting the tree in a playpen or putting in a corner where you can use baby gates. Be careful with all holiday decorations and plants. Most are choking hazards and some, like poinsettias, are even poisonous!
Make sure all the lights and cords you are using are UL approved and heavy duty. This is probably overkill but it’s better to have more protection than less. I am a big light person usually putting at least six strings on a six foot tree so I always use heavy duty cords. Nevertheless, our tree is never on unless there is someone in attendance. Always off when we’re in bed or away. If you go to sleep early like we do, use a timer. Again, maybe overkill but you can’t be too safe.
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
