Finding the perfect Christmas tree

Symbolof the Season

Area tree farms assist with a holiday tradition

One of the most iconic and enduring symbols of the holiday season is the Christmas tree.

For many people, picking out the perfect tree is a daylong event that is rooted in tradition and family fun.

The Christmas tree as we know it began to appear in Germany in the 1500s. The early German trees were decorated with paper roses, apples, candies, nuts and accented with strips of red paper. Then candles were added to light the tree.

Today’s trees take on many shapes, sizes, colors and themes with different arrays of lights and ornaments that are limited only by the imagination.

For many people, only freshly cut pines, spruces, balsams and firs – the trees that bring a distinctive pine scent to your home – will do.

Whatever your customs and traditions, Christmas trees are a fragrant reminder of the season.

Here are four area tree farms that are members of the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association: Evergreen Acres

N9171 Nelson Rd., East Troy 262-495-4502 www.evergreenacresllc.com

Family owned and operated by Ann and Bob Fecht since 1975, Evergreen offers 33 acres of pine, spruce, and fir trees where you can choose and cut your own or pre-cut trees. Shaking and baling your tree is available as well.

Visit the heated barn where you will find a great selection of trees, handmade wreaths, garlands, swags, arches, crosses, and candy canes from fresh cut greens are available. Enjoy complimentary cocoa and cider.

Open through Christmas Eve from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Cash and checks are accepted. Bring your own saw or use theirs. No chain saws allowed.

Sugar Creek Tree Farm

N6447 Church Rd Burlington 262-767-1177

Features cut-your-own trees including balsam fir, scotch pine, white pine, Colorado blue spruce, white spruce; and a variety of fresh cut Fraser fir trees. Refreshments, tree baling, saws and twine provided.

Open through Christmas eve daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Country Side Trees

W7015 N. Walworth Road, Walworth 262-275-5105 www.countrysidetreeswi.com

Cut your own trees or purchase freshly cut trees, freshly made wreaths and garlands available. Open until Dec. 24. Weekday hours Monday through Friday 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Choose from white pines, blue spruce, Frasier fir and Norway pines.

Valley View Tree Farm

W798 Valley View Rd., Burlington 262-210-7235 or 262-534-7234

Offers choose and cut your own trees or pre-cut lot featuring pine, spruce and fir trees. Free bailing and shaking is provided.

Wreaths, garlands, swags, centerpieces are also available.

Cut-your-own fields are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Pre-cut lot and gift shop are open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open through Dec. 12.

Credit cards are accepted.

Keeping your tree fresh

The key to maintaining your live Christmas tree throughout the holiday season is to give it the proper care from the time it is purchased until the tree is removed from your home.

Maintaining a high moisture l evel in the tree is the single most important factor in reducing needle loss and keeping the tree fresh. This is accomplished primarily through the use of waterholding stands and maintaining the water level in the stand above the base of the tree.

Every year there are many articles written concerning the handling and care of Christmas trees. Unfortunately, they often contain erroneous information.

The following research-based guidelines will help you to maintain the freshness and aroma of your live Christmas tree this holiday season. • Use a tree stand with an adequate water-holding capacity. A tree stand should have a water basin that provides 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. A cut tree will absorb a surprising amount of water, particularly during the first week, so replenish the water daily. • The tree stand should fit your tree. Avoid whittling down the sides of the trunk to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed. • If the tree is to be stored more than a couple days before display, it is advisable to place its trunk in water and store it in a cool, shaded and protected area such as an unheated garage. • If it has been longer than 12 hours since harvest, the trunk should be recut to improve water uptake. • Cutting off a disk of wood about ¼-inch thick from the base of the trunk is all that is necessary before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don’t cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also may reduce the amount of water available to the tree. • Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat. Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day. • The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake. • Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. • Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake. • Adding water-holding gels to the stand is not beneficial and they can reduce the amount of water in the stand that is available to the tree. • Do not use additives in the water, including floral preservatives, commercial tree preservatives, molasses, sugar, bleach, soft drinks, aspirin, honey, and other concoctions. • Displaying trees in water with proper care is much more effective in reducing fire hazards than spraying trees with flame retardants. Some flame retardants can damage needles and actually increase the rate of moisture loss from trees. • Monitor your tree for dryness. Run your fingers across the needles to determine if they are dry and brittle. If the needles break easily or fall off in your hand, the tree is dry and should be remove from the house.

A well-cared-for tree should normally remain fresh at least three to four weeks before drying to an unacceptable level.

This article was written by Ricky M. Bates of the Department of Horticulture at Penn State University. It is provided here courtesy of the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association.

What tree suits you?

Wisconsin Christmas tree farmers can grow a variety of Christmas trees. Balsam fir, spruce and white pine are native to the state and were originally harvested from the natural wild forest.

The following list, provided by the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association, provides short descriptions of trees that may be available in Wisconsin, either at retail lots or choose and cut farms.

BALSAM FIR: These needles are ¾ to 1½ in. in length and last a very long time. This tree has a darkgreen appearance and retains its pleasing fragrance throughout the Christmas season. FRASER FIR: The Fraser fir branches turn slightly upward. They have good form and excellent needleretention. They are dark blue-green in color and the needles have a silver underside. They have a pleasant scent, and excellent shipping characteristics as well. WHITE PINE: The largest pine in the U.S., the white pine has soft, flexible needles and is bluish-green in color. Needles are 2½ - 5 inches long. White pines have good needle retention, but have little aroma. They aren’t recommended for heavy ornaments. WHITE SPRUCE: The white spruce is excellent for ornaments; its short, stiff needles are ½ to ¾ in. long and have a blunt tip. They are bluish-green - green in color, but have a bad aroma when needles are crushed. They have excellent foliage color and have a good, natural shape. The needle retention is better in a white spruce than it is among other spruces.

COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE: These sharp

needles are 1 to 1 ½ in. in length. This species is bluish-gray in color. Needles have an unpleasant odor when crushed. This Christmas Tree has good symmetrical form and an attractive blue foliage. It also has good needle retention. CONCOLOR FIR: These small, narrow needles are around 1 to 1½ in. in length and occur in rows. They have good foliage color, good needle retention, and a pleasing shape and aroma. DOUGLAS-FIR: These soft needles are dark green to blue green in color and are approximately 1 to 1 ½ in. in length. Douglas-fir needles radiate in all directions from the branch. When crushed, these needles have a sweet fragrance. They are one of the top major Christmas tree species in the U.S. and are available from some growers in Wisconsin. SCOTCH PINE: Approximately 1 in. in length, these needles don’t even fall when they’re dry, providing excellent needle retention. The color is a bright green. The most common Christmas tree in the U.S., the scotch pine has an excellent survival rate, is easy to replant, has great durability and will remain fresh throughout the holiday season.