Gardening: Choosing the Right Tree for You

Another Thanksgiving is behind us, and now December and Christmas are fast on their way. For many of us in Scotch Plains and Fanwood, it is again time to choose a beautiful and fragrant fresh cut tree to decorate our homes and enhance our holiday celebration.

When selecting a fresh cut tree, the best choices are the Frasier fir and the Balsam fir.

Frasier Firs are native to the southern Appalachian Mountains. Its needles are extremely fragrant and are a beautiful silver and green color. They have strong, natural symmetry which simply makes it an attractive tree. It has strong branches, excellent for heavier, larger ornaments.  he Frasier Fir also has excellent needle retention.

Balsam fir is the traditional variety used as a cut Christmas tree. It has the familiar room-filling pine scent, and an amazingly dense perfect cone shape. Branches are strong for ornament hanging, and its lush green needle color is delightful.

A cut tree will last the entire holiday season with the proper care. 

Before placing the tree into its stand, give the bottom of the trunk a fresh cut, at least an inch thick and straight across. When the tree is first cut at the tree farm, the sap forms a seal over the bottom that will keep it from absorbing water. A fresh cut removes this seal and allows the tree to begin to "drink" water again.

Be sure that the tree stand holds ample water and replenish it often enough that the water level does not fall below the bottom of the trunk. A tree with a 2-inch diameter trunk usually uses about 2 quarts of water per day and a 4-inch diameter trunk will require over a gallon of water per day. Adding a tree preservative will give the tree nutrients that it needs while living in your home.

Fresh Christmas trees should be displayed well away from heating vents and/or fireplaces.

For more gardening information, or to submit your own questions, feel free to email me at tracy@parkerplants.com.

Tracy A. Smith is Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch's gardening columnist and the general manager at Parker Gardens. Look for her column here every week.