Gently squeeze a limb and pull your hand down the length of it. If the tree is fresh, very few needles should come off in your hand.
Many people want a Norman Rockwell Christmas. The home-cooked dinner. The cozy family gathering. The sparkling, fresh Christmas tree. Even with families watching their wallets, a tree still may be a "must-do" purchase.
Luckily, there are good options. The most economical choice is to use a tree you already have. It might be the artificial one in your attic or the one growing in your yard that you decorate with weather-proof lights and ornaments. You can get that fresh-tree scent indoors by pruning a few evergreen branches to make a table arrangement with other greenery.
If budget allows, going to a nearby tree farm to cut your own will ensure the freshest tree, said Doris Taylor of the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. You'll get the size and shape you want. And fresher is safer. Dried out trees festooned with lights in a dry home environment are can spell trouble.
If fragrance is important, Douglas fir and balsam fir generally have the strongest fragrance, according to Taylor. White pine and white fir are close seconds. If you plan to hang a lot of decorations and ornaments, look for a tree with sturdy branches.
If the tree must last for several weeks, try firs or pines, which generally keep needles longer, said Taylor. Scots pine needles last longest. On the other hand, Norway spruce and white spruce lose needles quickest.
Blue spruce trees have gray-green to blue-green, 1- to 3-inch needles that are stiff and prickly. Crushed needles emit a resin-like scent. The trees have a pleasing, symmetrical form but poor needle retention.
Is cutting your own tree not an option? Try your local tree lot. Ask where the trees were grown. Many are from nearby Michigan and Wisconsin farms. Others can be from as far away as Oregon. While tree farms remove a lot of carbon dioxide from the air, shipping cut trees from long distances uses a lot of fossil fuel.
Plus, freshness is a factor. "Usually trees are cut down in September, packaged in netting and shipped in large truckloads," said Taylor. But good trees can be found in lots. Taylor shares her tips. Needles should be springy and well attached. Gently squeeze a limb and pull your hand down the length of it. Very few needles should come off in your hand. Some trees are dyed, so check to see if dye rubs off on your hands.
Then hold the tree upright and pound the base of the trunk on the ground. If the tree sheds many green needles, pass on it. Check for a nice evergreen scent. And inspect the cut end, which should be sticky with sap.
Prolong the freshness of your tree and up the safety factor by keeping it watered. "Sap dries and stops the uptake of water, so re-cut the bottom of the tree before bringing it in the house," said Taylor. Immediately put the tree in water. "Be sure to check the water level daily. A fresh tree can literally soak up a gallon of water a day," she said.
Laurie Casey is a staff writer at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.
