By Faith Peppers
University of
Georgia
Whether you are just late catching the Christmas spirit or all
the new lead danger warnings have you concerned about putting
up your old faithful artificial tree, University of Georgia
experts say take time to inspect cut trees before you buy.
“You have to consider that trees have been out for several
weeks now,” said Bob Westerfield, a UGA Cooperative Extension
horticulturist in Griffin, Ga. “Check it out closely to make
sure it’s not too dry to buy.”
There are several simple tests Westerfield recommends tree
shoppers use:
Bump it – “Hold the tree upright and bump it on the
ground, if a lot of needles fall off, that’s a bad sign,” he
said. “You might want to pass on that tree.”
Bend it – “Find a limb near the top of the tree and bend
the outer edges,” he said. “The branches should be flexible and
pliable.” If the branches snap and crack when you twist
them, “that’s a dry tree and one to avoid,” Westerfield
advised.
Grab it – “Grab a branch and run your closed-fisted hand
down the branch,” he said. “You should not have a hand full of
needles. If you do, don’t buy that tree.”
Most varieties will last the holiday season given adequate
water.
“If you go for blue spruces or one of the firs, remember they
have already come a long way to get here from the north or
Canada,” Westerfield said. “Take extra care with them. If they
weren’t taken care of on the truck here, the needles will all
fall off and you’ll end up with an expensive Charlie Brown
tree.”
The Leyland Cypress varieties are more likely to have been
grown closer to Georgia, Westerfield said.
Fresh choice
A good bet, too, is to make a family outing to a local tree
farm and cut your own tree.
“It’s more of an experience for young kids if you do a choose-
and-cut,” Westerfield said. “Many farms offer other fun
activities like hay rides, and you are assured of a fresh tree
that way. They are also usually cheaper that way.”
The downside to cutting your own is Georgia growers offer
limited variety choices.
“Some farmers are now growing a few Virginia pines and red
cedars, but Leyland is the king in Georgia right now,” he
said.
Water is key
Buying a fresh tree is the right start, then you must keep it
fresh once you get it home.
“The whole key to keeping the tree fresh, is water,”
Westerfield said. “When you get the tree home, even if it
hasn’t been cut long because you cut it yourself, the stump
will scab over with sap. You should remove a half inch of the
base with a sharp saw to make a clean cut and open up the
channels to the trunk. Immediately get it in a tree stand full
of water.”
To make sure your tree gets adequate water, start with a good
stand.
“Go with the deep basin stands that hold at least a gallon of
water,” he said. “The first day, the tree will drink it dry.
The first few days you have to check it several times a day.
Then it will slow down.”
There are myths galore about adding aspirin or Alka-selter to
the tree’s water, but Westerfield recommends using plan
water.
“There are no magic potions that will make it last longer,” he
said. “The keys are the clean cut base and continuous
watering.”
If you allow the tree to go dry for any period of time, the
base will harden over again. This causes excessive drying and
creates a fire hazzard.
