By Kimberly Gentry
For many who celebrate Christmas, a beautifully lit and decorated live tree is the seasonal centerpiece for decking the halls of their home. Families customize their trees, always mindful of family traditions and personal tastes. Heirloom ornaments are hung with care, garland draped over branches and maybe the twinkle of tinsel is scattered all about.
Every year, approximately 25–30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S., according to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA). If your family is among those millions, be sure to follow some simple steps for picking the right tree for your home and ensuring it will safely last through the season.
North Carolina is famous for its Christmas trees. Approximately 3 million are harvested annually in the state and it ranks as the second largest producer (behind Oregon) in the country, according to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Of the trees grown in N.C., the vast majority are Fraser firs, beloved for their beauty, needle retention, aroma and strong branches.
“Frasers are the most popular Christmas tree,” said Val Creager, who co-owns Neighbor Boy Farm and Country Store in Apex along with her husband, Dave. “North Carolina is known for their Frasers. They ship all over the country. They’ve been in Rockefeller Plaza. They’ve been at the White House. They’re really well known and grow extremely well in our mountains.”
Neighbor Boy is not only a farm and certified plant nursery, but also home to an annual Christmas tree lot featuring Frasers, the tree species you’ll mostly likely find on tree lots across Wake County. “The Fraser just has an appeal by the way it looks and really for how long it lasts,” Creager said.
The lasting part is key when it comes to a real Christmas tree for your home, especially as more families put up trees as early as Thanksgiving.
Freshness Counts
There is a simple truth when it comes to Christmas trees: The fresher the tree, the longer it will last.
“It’s just like a flower; the minute you cut it, it starts dying,” said Creager. “And that’s why the Frasers are so revered because they tend to hold on to their needles and stay fresh the longest.”
Byron May knows all about the importance of timing when it comes to cutting Christmas trees. May and his wife, Diana, co-own Jordan Lake Farms, which produces fresh flowers and a variety of “choose-and-cut” trees for Christmas, including Virginia Pine, Leland Cypress and Carolina Sapphire.
“Try to get the freshest tree,” May said. “And the freshest tree is one you can cut yourself.” May’s Christmas tree farm, which is located in the part of Apex that’s just inside Chatham County, is among the state’s 950 growers, according to the N.C. Christmas Tree Association (NCCTA). Jordan Lake Farms also sells pre-cut Fraser firs and Concolor firs from the N.C. mountains.
People interested in a “choose and cut” tree can visit a farm like the Mays’ or those in the mountains. Fraser firs are grown in six of the state’s western counties including Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Henderson and Watauga.
Like any crop, Christmas trees are subjected to numerous factors that affect freshness before they arrive on your local lot, especially weather. Ideally, they’re cut after cold weather has settled into the mountains. “They always say that the trees need one or two good frosts, good freezes to set the needles, so to speak,” May said. “So, I always hear that the colder it is in the mountains before they start cutting, the better it is for the trees,” he said, adding that this timing helps reduce stress on the trees.
Timing is key to the longevity of any fresh-cut tree — the quicker it travels after harvesting in the mountains to a tree lot, the better.
The Tree Lot Test
Once trees are lining local lots, follow these practical and easy tips when shopping to make sure you’re picking out one that’s as fresh as possible.
• How are the trees stored? Look to see if the lot is keeping their trees shaded. Trees should be held in a shaded area or protected by a covering such as burlap before being put on display.
“It’s storage…keeping them cool in preparation for putting them out on the lot to sell,” May said. He explained they don’t put all of their precut trees out for sale at one time, instead, just what’s needed for the day and until the next load comes.
• Are the trees in water? Ideally, trees should be stored in water at the lot, according to Creager. “We keep our trees in water,” she said. “That’s always something to look for.”
• Where did the tree come from? Try to determine if the tree lot you’re shopping is purchasing directly from a farm, which is the case for both Creager and May. Basically, the closer to the source farm the better, versus trees that exchange many hands before arriving on a lot. “I just think [when] picking out your tree, knowing how fresh it is and where it comes from is important,” Creager said.
• Examine the branches. Branches should feel soft and retain needles when pulled. “When you pull branches, there are always going to be some [needles],” said Creager. “You might get one or two, but there really shouldn’t be much if you’re getting a tree that’s just been cut.”
Creager pointed out that it’s completely normal for needles at the very center of the tree to be brown and fall when shaken. She explained that this area of the tree isn’t exposed to as much sunlight when growing, so it browns. “Any tree you shake is going to drop needles. Even the freshest tree, even when they just cut it, just because of the needles inside.’”
In contrast, Creager said, “If you’re seeing brown on the outside and the edges, then that’s not good.”
The NCCTA offers similar advice online, noting that the dropping of older, interior needles is natural and normal.
What’s not normal and signals an excessively dry tree is a faded color overall and wrinkled bark on the outer twigs, according to the organization. Another sign is green needles around a tree’s exterior that fall off easily with a just gentle touch or when the tree is bounced on a hard surface.
• Be a savvy shopper. Fresh-cut trees are expensive, and consumers want their money’s worth, so take your time shopping at the tree lot. “Be picky,” May said. “Look them over, make sure the tree is not dry, not dropping needles, shake it, pull on the branches, make sure it’s not overly brittle.”
When it comes to a tree’s price tag, the old adage of “you get what you pay for” likely rings true. Creager said the pricing reflects the overall quality of a tree, including how long a tree’s been cut and how fresh it is. She also noted trees can have a USDA grading that’s helpful to consumers.
According to the USDA’s online information, some growers voluntarily note the grade of their trees based on requirements set by the agency. Grading factors include a tree’s shape, any trunk defects, characteristics typical for the species and more. Of the three USDA grades, premium is the highest.
Found One! What’s Next?
After you find a tree that’s aesthetically pleasing and passes the freshness test, there are a few more boxes to check before you buy it and take it home.
• Will it fit? This tip sounds obvious, but miscalculating is easy, especially if people shop with only their ceiling height in mind.
May said people will think, “‘So, I have an eight-foot ceiling, I can get an eight-foot tree’…well, you can’t. By the time you get it in a stand, an eight-foot tree is taller than eight feet. And then you put an angel on the top, so you end up cutting a foot off the bottom of your tree. You could have bought a seven-foot tree, which is what you should have done instead of paying for an eight-foot tree.”
• Any signs of bugs? Although unlikely, it’s possible for a tree to have a bug infestation of aphids or spider mites. Creager said growers examine their trees for infestations and, if necessary, treat those before cutting and shipping.
“If they don’t catch it, [the bugs] go into hibernation and then they sit in the tree,” Creager explained. “They don’t come out again until it’s warm and that means when it gets in your house.”
Creager pointed out this is beyond a tree having a bug or two on it, which most any tree will. “You’re not looking for a bug or a spider,” she said. “It would be an infestation.”
To check, Creager said to examine all the way to the trunk for an abundance of bugs or little white specks (eggs). Creager also pointed out the rarity of the problem since both growers and lot owners check trees. And, that lot owners should pull any trees with an infestation. “In some 20 years of having trees, I don’t think we’ve had 20 trees out of thousands that actually had bugs in them,” she said.
The N.C. State Extension Service agrees, noting on its website that a pest problem on a Christmas tree is rare. Before bringing the tree inside, the extension service recommends shaking the tree to remove debris. Also, consider hosing the tree down and letting it dry before bringing it inside. Any pests that are present should fall off during these steps.
If an infestation does happen to you, the extension service tips include: 1) vacuuming pests with the beater bar off (aphids will leave a purple or red stain if squished); 2) treating the tree with an insecticidal soap; or 3) Removing the tree from your house if the infestation is large.
• Do I have a good stand? Before you buy a tree, make sure you have a sturdy, supportive stand that’s suited for the tree’s size. For example, larger trees (6 feet or taller) need a wider stand with four to five prongs. A stand that’s too big or too small might cause a tree to tip over, according to NCCTA. And never trim a tree’s trunk to fit into a stand — either pick another tree or buy a new stand.
Next, be sure to check your tree stand for any missing or broken parts, such as a cracked water basin. Water capacity is a crucial criterion for a stand, so choose one with a large capacity basin versus the small, “coffee cup”-style, according to NCCTA recommendations.
Keep in mind that a tree’s trunk diameter will displace water in the stand, so the larger the tree, the less water that can be added to a stand’s basin.
• Make a fresh cut. The tree’s base needs to be trimmed since a new, fresh cut opens up pores that absorb water, according to the NCCTA. The organization recommends removing about one fourth to half an inch off the base before putting the tree in a water holding stand.
Trimming can be done by the tree lot employees before you leave, but only if you’re going to put your tree in water within a few hours because the tree’s base will reseal itself and prevent its ability to absorb water.
“Once you cut it, either at the lot or when you get home, you want it in the bowl with water within a couple of hours,” said Creager. “A lot of people like to buy their tree and then set it in the garage for a day or two. As long as you do that in a bucket of water, that’s totally fine. But, if it’s not in water, it’s going to dry out. You’ll have to put another fresh cut on the bottom.”
Creager explained every tree will absorb water at a different rate so it’s important to check the stand’s basin daily and add water if necessary. She also recommends putting plastic under the stand to protect floors from any spillage.
May said a large tree could drink up to two to three quarts of water a day, but not to worry if your tree isn’t drinking a lot. “Ninety-nine out of 100 trees will drink water pretty well, depending on how wet they were, how much water they took in before you got them home,” he said. May suggests adding hot water to the stand basin to encourage water absorption.
Hot tap water can also help if you realize you forgot to trim the tree’s base after the tree is in its stand and fully decorated. Even without the base trimmed, a tree will still take in water, just at a reduced rate, according to the NCCTA.
What doesn’t encourage water absorption? Sculpting a tree’s base.
May said, “People ask, ‘Should I shave the bark off the bottom of the tree at the sides before putting in water?’ And we’ve never had any recommendation that you should do any kind of sculpting of the bottom.”
NCCTA agrees and cautions against tapering the trunk’s base or cutting it at an angle since it reduces the surface area for plant tissue to absorb water. Plus, these types of cuts also require more water depth and make it difficult to keep a tree upright in a stand.
And, no special water additives are needed for fresh-cut Christmas trees, according to the NCCTA. Plain tap water is best.
Home, Safe Home — Fire Prevention
Ready to bring your tree inside and start decorating? Not just yet! A Christmas tree fire is a very real concern, but homeowners can make smart and sensible choices to help prevent a tragedy.
Creager pointed out that placement affects the freshness of a Christmas tree. “Keep your tree away from a window, heating vents and anything that’s going to dry it out,” she advised.
Since windows are a popular spot for trees, Creager suggests closing your blinds when the sun is coming directly through the window. “It dries out your tree and drying out your tree isn’t just an aesthetic thing — it makes it more of a fire hazard.”
Courtney Butler, the Community Risk Reduction Coordinator with the Town of Apex, agrees that freshness is crucial and homeowners need to stay on top of watering their tree.
“Always keep it in water — water, water, water,” she emphasized.
In her role, Butler, a former firefighter and marketing professional, creates programming to increase public awareness on safety-related issues, including fire safety. Butler explained that a real Christmas tree that’s in water and kept as fresh as possible will burn slower than a dried-out tree. “A dried tree really can ignite in seconds,” she said.
Butler said homeowners should always place their tree, and any other combustibles (like a sofa or blanket), at least three feet away from a heat source. If a Christmas tree does ignite, Butler said the fire will spread quickly, burning faster and hotter because of all of the flammable materials common throughout homes today. “We say you have two to three minutes to get out of your house once those smoke alarms go off. And, it really does have to do with the materials that we have in our houses.”
A fire can grow and move fast, so it’s important to be able to get out of your house quickly. “One thing people don’t think about is…don’t block exits with a Christmas tree. You should always have two ways out of every single room in case of a fire,” she said, adding that that’s an important general fire safety tip all year long, not just at Christmas.
The speed with which a Christmas tree can burn is also why it shouldn’t be left unattended with the decorative lights turned on. “I would always unplug or turn off the lights overnight and any time you’re not in the room with the tree, just to be safe,” Butler said. “It’s a rarity that these things happen, but you just never want to chance it. Make sure, especially over the winter, that you have working smoke alarms and that you’re testing them because that’s what’s going to save your life and your property.”
Butler’s tips to help prevent a Christmas tree fire include:
Place trees at least three feet away from fireplaces, candles, space heaters and any other heat source.
Never use candles on or near the tree.
Use lights with certified safety testing by UL (Underwriters Laboratory) and discard any with frayed, damaged, or exposed wires.
Check lights for any broken bulbs, and replace them.
Consider using LED tree lights, which are not only more energy efficient, but also safer because they don’t burn as hot as incandescent lights.
Don’t overload extension cords or power strips.
Always turn off the tree lights before going to sleep, leaving home or whenever the tree is unattended.
Make sure all smoke alarms are working.
Christmas Tree Disposal
After the holiday festivities are over, Butler said to place your tree on the curb away from your house. The Town of Apex offers curbside pickup of Christmas trees throughout January. The trees are collected and chipped curbside as part of the regular yard waste collection service. The town’s Public Works Department asks residents to follow these instructions:
Remove all decorations from the tree. Be sure to remove any nails used as part of your tree stand.
Place the tree on the curb (not in the road) for your regular yard waste pick-up day.
Another option is the Wake County Happy Trails Christmas Tree Recycling Program, which turns Christmas trees into mulch for county park trails. Interested residents can drop off their trees at the Wake County Convenience Center at 6120 Old Smithfield Road in Apex. The center will accept undecorated trees from December 26 until January 26. (The facility is closed on New Year’s Day.) Operating hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.
Learn More
Find “choose & cut” farms and tree care tips at ncchristmastrees.com.
The Town of Apex and the Apex Fire Department offer fire prevention tips for Christmas trees, indoor and outdoor holiday decorations, decorating with child safety in mind, and more at apexnc.org/339/Christmas-Safety.
