The Sauk County Gardener

The Perfect Christmas Tree The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!” --Unknown   It’s a little early for me to start thinking about Christmas decorating but for many folks, the Christmas tree goes up during the extended Thanksgiving weekend. That’s a good five weeks before Christmas and some like to keep the tree all the way into the new year. If you’re planning to have a live tree, it’s important to consider some things before you get the tree. With any live tree, it’s important to place it in a location away from heat sources and the general household traffic. If you’re not sure how tall your ceiling are, measure before you head out. No need to purchase a 12-foot tree if your ceilings are only 8 feet high. Also take into consideration the amount of space you need for your topper.  Once you have your key tree measurements, you can head out to a tree lot or tree farm. I’m partial to cutting our own tree and we’ve done it numerous times over the years creating wonderful Christmas memories – for me. I discovered in recent years that I was really the only one who liked wandering through the tree farm in the cold and snow, searching for the perfect tree. When the “perfect” tree was found, many times it was covered in snow, and one of my family members had to lay down in deep snow to cut it down. When we first got married, my wonderful hubby, Scott, cut down the tree. Over the years, our son, daughter, son-in-law, and even my granddaughter, have cut down the tree. Now that they have their own homes, my son and daughter-in-law put up an artificial tree and my daughter and son-in-law go to their favorite tree lot. Depending on our holiday plans, we even sometimes put up an artificial tree. Otherwise, Scott will once again be delegated to lie down on the ground, preferably when there is snow, to cut down the perfect tree and drag it back to truck. That’s love.  If you decide to go the live route, here are some things you should look for: a nicely shape, a straight trunk that isn’t visible through branches, and slightly sticky to the touch. Also check the freshness of the tree (remember, you’re likely leaving it up for at least a month, if not more). At the tree farm: grab a branch and gently pull your hand toward you. The needles should stay on the branch. At a tree lot: gently tap the tree on the ground; only a few needles, if any, should fall. Check the individual needles as well by bending a few needles in half. Balsam or Fraser fir needles should snap. Fresh pine needles should bend. Fragrance, branch strength, and color should also be considered when selecting a tree. If you like a strong Christmas tree smell, choose a Balsam or Fraser fir. Added bonus, they have strong branches, great for heavy ornaments. Firs have short blue/green or dark green needles which they retain well. Consider the Scotch or white pine, if you like longer needles, Scotch pines have stronger branches plus good needle retention. A white pine can be an economical choice if you want a larger, taller tree.  Spruce trees have stiff branches that hold ornaments well and have excellent color. However, if you have small children or pets, keep in mind their needs can be quite sharp. Once you have the tree home, cut off at least a half-inch from the bottom of the trunk and put it in water as quickly as possible. It’s important to keep your tree stand always full of water. During the first few days, you may need to water your tree 2-3 times a day. It’s recommended that you get a tree stand that can hold at least a gallon of water. If you have pets, they may try to drink the water so make sure they are unable to get to water or they may become sick. Finally, keep it away from heat sources as much as possible. Follow these tips and your tree should be “perfect” for 4-6 weeks into the holiday season.  This week’s article is written by Jeannie Manis, a Wisconsin Certified Sauk County Master Gardener Volunteer. If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to  trripp@wisc.edu or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608-355-3250.