Christmas is my favorite holiday of all and every year we look forward to our family tradition of cutting down our very own Christmas tree. There are many different types of trees to choose from and what’s important is not only picking what you like but also getting a tree that will last through the entire holiday. I was able to speak with the general manager at Maple Row Farm in Easton who has kindly provided useful information about different types of trees as well as tips on how to make your tree last as long as possible. Maple Row Farm in Easton has several options for trees and the list below can help in your tree selection. We particularly like the Blue Spruce because of its bluish/silver tones and good needle retention.
*Here are several tree options available at Maple Row in Easton:
Balsam Fir – Balsam fir exhibits a relatively dense, dark green, pyramidal crown with a slender spire-like tip. Balsam fir and Fraser fir have many similar characteristics. The Balsam fir has moderate branch strength, soft needles, good needle retention, good aroma and limited availability.
Blue Spruce- Needles are generally sharp and bluish-gray to silvery blue in color. Some trees have a more distinct bluish-white foliage. It is the official state tree of both Colorado and Utah. The Blue Spruce has strong branch strength, hard needles, good needle retention, and good aroma and there’s a great selection.
Canaan - (pronounced “Ka-naan”) is a relative newcomer to the Christmas tree market. It has many similarities to both Fraser and Balsam firs in growth and appearance. The Canaan has moderate branch strength, soft needles, good needle retention, good aroma and limited availability.
Concolor Fir – the White fir is also commonly called the Concolor fir. As a Christmas tree, white fir has good foliage color, a pleasing natural shape and aroma. The Concolor has strong branch strength, soft needles, good needle retention, good citrus aroma and the availability is moderate.
Douglas Fir – The Farmer’s favorite, Douglas fir trees can live for a thousand years. At Maple Row Farm the climate is very similar to the native climate of the Douglas fir. It has moderate branch retention, soft needles, great needle retention, good aroma and there is great selection.
Frasier Fir – In many respects, Fraser firs and balsam firs are quite similar, although the geographic ranges of the two species do not overlap. The Frasier fir has moderate branch strength, soft needles, good needle retention, good aroma, and the availability is limited.
Norway Spruce – More than 100 forms and varieties of Norway Spruce have been named. The color of the Norway spruce is excellent, but they must be cut fresh and kept properly watered. The Norway spruce has strong branch strength, hard needles, poor needle retention, moderate aroma and availability is limited.
White Pine – White pine is considered to be the largest pine in the United States. White pine is reported to result in fewer allergic reactions than other species. It has weak branch strength, soft needles, good needle retention, limited aroma, it's best for allergies and there’s a great selection.
White Spruce – White Spruce is the state tree of South Dakota. As a Christmas tree, white spruce has excellent foliage color, short stiff needles and a good natural shape. The White Spruce has strong branch strength, poor overall needle retention, moderate aroma and there’s a great selection.
Proper care and safety precautions will allow your family to enjoy the tree throughout the holiday season. Before setup cut off 1/4 inch or more from the base of the tree. As an alternative apply a Fresh Cut Cover at the farm to keep the tree from sealing for up to 72 hours. Store your tree in a cool dry location, out of the sun. Keep water in your stand. A good stand will hold plenty of water, but should be checked daily, twice the first day. If your tree runs out of water, the base will need to be re-cut so the tree can continue to drink its water. After Christmas many towns offer curbside pickup for recycling. If not, ask your tree farm about recycling.
Holiday tree hunting is so much fun for our family and a tradition we look forward to every year. I would suggest dressing in weather appropriate clothing especially small children. Wear warm socks, a hat, dress in layers, wear gloves and don't forget that tarp for the top of your vehicle. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and a few silly holiday hats for the perfect photo opp for your holiday cards. We usually chop our tree down the weekend right after Thanksgiving or the first weekend in December depending on our schedules. We are partial to Maple Row Farm but have also cut our trees down from both Jones Family Farm and Fairview Farm in Shelton. Enjoy!
*The above Information has been copied from the Maple Row Farm site with permission from the general manager. A huge thanks to Scott at Maple Row Farm for his assistance it putting together this article.
