A fresh Christmas tree is a safer tree
BLACKSBURG, Va., Dec. 6, 2002 – Shopping for the perfect Christmas tree can be one of the highlights of the holiday season. There are several things to remember about buying a cut tree that will ensure the tree is fresh, making it a safer tree throughout the holidays.
"Size is the first consideration when selecting a tree," says Bobby Grisso, Virginia Cooperative Extension engineer at Virginia Tech. Before shopping, measure the spot where the tree will be and measure the floor area and the ceiling height. Grisso reminds tree shoppers that about an inch will be cut off the tree's bottom, but a stand may add several inches to the tree's height.
- Grisso suggests the following steps for buying a fresh, high-quality Christmas.
- Buy early before all the desirable trees have been sold.
- Select a fir or pine tree. They hold needles better than do spruce trees.
- Gently pull on the needles. They should be tightly attached to the twig.
- Shake the tree vigorously or bounce the butt, bottom of the trunk, on the ground. If many green needles fall, don't buy that tree. Dead, brown needles falling from the inner part of the tree may have been shed years ago and aren't a problem.
- Check to see that the tree has a fresh, green color. Some trees are sprayed with a blue-green dye. This dye is harmless, but check to ensure it's not hiding a dry tree.
- Break some needles. They should be flexible, moist, or even sticky, and fragrant when crushed.
- Be sure limbs are strong enough to support lights and ornaments. Limbs also should be well placed to give the tree a pleasing shape. Hide defects by turning the defective side toward a wall.
- Ask the dealer if the tree was locally grown. Local trees are much more likely to be fresh because they are cut nearer Christmas and aren't shipped long distances. Chose-and-cut trees are available from local tree growers.
Contact: Robert Grisso
Virginia Cooperative Extension Safety Engineer
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6538
rgrisso@vt.edu
Contact: Michael Sutphin
Writer
Communications and Marketing
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6975
msutphin@vt.edu
Writer: Nancy Templeman
Agriculture and Extension Communications
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6185
templemn@vt.edu