Submitted by: Ann McKee(1,188) Log in to become a member of Ann McKee's Fan Club!
If you have not grown a tree for this specific purpose you can go to farms where you can pick a tree and have them cut it down for you. Although these are the options that ensure the freshest tree, I realize most of us in urban areas have to purchase it from a retail lot.
Here are some tips on how to select a healthy tree:
Determine the kind of species the retailer is selling and decide on the specific one you want. The best species for use as Christmas tress are fir as they do not shed a lot of needles specially as they are drying out. They also have good foliage color and scent. But you can select from a wide variety these days.
Use the measurements you brought with you.
Once you have specimen in mind, ask about when it was cut down. As you may suspect, more recently chopped down trees will last longer. And with proper care you can have your tree looking healthy for a long time.
Examine your potential tree carefully. A good specimen will look healthy and green and with a potent fragrant.
If it has dry, brittle twigs, a musty smell or any sign of dryness or browning it is your indication to move on to the next tree.
Broken branches or any damage to the trunk or bark is also a good indicator to find another tree.
The tree limbs should be strong enough to hold your ornaments and lights.
The leaves or needles should be soft and flexible and should not snap or break when bent. You do not want a tree that is already losing excessive needles. There are couple of ways to check this. If you run you hand over a branch the needles should not all come off in your hands. Do a quick shake test - if you get a shower of needles move on to the next tree. Or you can bump the tree against the ground from a height of about one foot and again a shower of needles is no good. Just remember that some loss of leaves or needles is normal, specially from the interior of the tree.
If you are diligent and select a healthy, fresh tree and take care of it appropriately it will easily last you a good 5 to 6 weeks or more - all the way from Thanksgiving to after Christmas.
Ann is a home based business entrepreneur who researches various topics and reviews internet products. For more information visit her site Christmas Trees
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