Nothing beats the look (and fragrance) of a real Christmas tree. Here are some tips from the experts at Swansons Nursery that will help you pick the perfect tree for your family and keep your tree fresh throughout the holiday season.
Types of Trees
There are many types of fir trees that are commonly used as Christmas trees. At Swansons, we carry the following varieties because they are the highest quality and have the most attractive natural appearance.
Noble Fir
The Noble Fir is the most popular Christmas tree in the Pacific Northwest. It is native to our region and has a great, classic fir fragrance. The tree can have a slightly bluish tint. Its horizontal branches are sturdy and stand up to heavier ornaments.
Fraser Fir
This tree is a popular Christmas trees on the east coast. It has a mild fragrance and blunt needles with silvery undersides. The branches are more upright and are quite strong.
Nordmann Fir
The Classic European Christmas tree, the Nordmann Fir has a lovely fir fragrance and soft, glossy, bright green needles that lay flat on the branches.
Christmas tree Care
Tips for Cut Trees
Cut Christmas trees are the ultimate holiday centerpiece and, with a little care, can look beautiful in your home for 6-8 weeks.
Water
It's the single best way to keep your tree healthy-looking. Our trees are freshly cut right before each customer leaves the store and we advise putting their tree into water within 90 minutes. Keep the water basin of your tree stand filled daily, never letting the water level drop below the tree’s cut end. Daily checking is recommended because if the cut end stays out of water too long it will seal itself off and the tree will not take up water until another fresh cut is applied.
Note: Fresh trees sometimes wait up to 2-3 days to start taking up water, so don't be alarmed if your tree doesn't "drink" right away!
Temperature
Keep your cut tree away from direct heat sources such as heat vents and fireplaces.
Tips for Living Christmas Trees
Living Christmas trees are a great option for those that want to plant the tree after the holidays. However, living trees should not be kept inside for more than 5-7 days, so if you’d like a tree in your house over a long period of time, cut trees may be a better option.
Outdoors vs. Indoors
The less time indoors, the better. Your living tree is dormant. If it remains indoors or too warm for more than a week, it may break dormancy and suffer damage when placed back outdoors in the cold. It will likely not show this damage until it comes out of dormancy in the spring.
Water
Water the tree well by soaking the entire root ball before bringing it inside. This may require that you water it multiple times in a row to be sure the water has soaked all the way through and not just wet the surface. Check the moisture level daily and water as needed.
Note: Ice cubes work well since they melt slowly and also help cool the roots!
Temperature
Keep your home as cool as possible and avoid placing the tree near heat vents and fireplaces.
Learn more about the local, family-farmed Christmas tree we sell at Swansons and how you can reserve your tree on social media by visiting https://www.picktheperfecttree.com/
Swansons’ Reindeer Festival is going on through December 24th. Visit with two of Santa’s reindeer, see our PNW-themed model train village, take a holiday adventure tour, and much more! See all the details at https://www.swansonsnursery.com/reindeer-festival-2018
