Whether you are selecting a
farm-cut tree or a pre-cut tree you want to choose a tree that will last
through the holidays. Here are some tips for choosing the right tree:
Let there be light!
Buying your tree
off a lot? If you are shopping for one after work, make sure the lot is well lit.
The delivery date
Ask when the tree was
delivered to the lot. Where the tree was delivered from will tell a lot about
the freshness. A locally grown tree is going to be fresher than a tree hauled
from a distant tree farm.
Make sure the needles are
resilient.
Using your thumb and
forefinger, take hold of a branch approximately 6-inches from the tip. Pull
your fingers toward you so the branch slips through your fingers. The needles
should slide between your fingers and not fall from the branch. The needles
should be flexible and not brittle.
Are the needles firmly attached to the tree?
Bump the base of the tree
lightly against the ground. There should be a very small amount of fall-off
from a fresh tree.
Give it the color and
fragrance test.
The tree should have a fresh
fragrance and look attractive. A fresh, moist tree retains water, which means
the tree has good moisture content. Moisture content helps a tree retain good
color and fragrance. Avoid tree with a musty odor of discolored foliage.
Strong limbs.
Make sure the limbs are
strong enough to hold your ornaments and lights.
If the tree you like meets
the above criteria, you have found a tree that should remain beautiful and fresh throughout the holiday.
Until Later
The Home Know-It-All
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