By Lindsay Friedman and Sarah Grothjan
Of the various traditions that characterize holiday celebrations, none is perhaps more crucial than tree selection. Whether intricately decorated with a carefully curated ornament scheme or seated in the front yard donning multicolored bulbs, nothing screams holiday cheer like a freshly cut (or manually assembled) pine.
So it makes sense that this holiday symbol would have more than one celebration devoted to it. That’s correct: This year marks the first ever National Christmas Tree Week.
A resolution drafted Nov. 30 declared the first full week of December as National Christmas Tree Week, according to a press release from the National Christmas Tree Association.
The resolution “reaffirms the environmental benefits of Christmas Tree farms and recycled Christmas Trees, and celebrates the joy Christmas Trees bring to families across the United States,” according to the press release.
To further justify the newfound holiday, the resolution outlines the number of jobs the Christmas tree industry has generated. According to the press release, 15,000 farms grow Christmas Trees throughout the U.S. and 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the Christmas tree industry.
Lois Saum, part owner at Saum Family Farms in Lancaster, Ohio, said her Christmas tree farm sells about 2,000 Christmas trees per year at a starting price of $25.
“When we first began (selling Christmas trees), it was going to be my husband’s and mine retirement,” Saum said. “But it quickly outgrew that.”
If you haven’t yet taken the opportunity to pluck your tree from a nearby Christmas tree farm, National Christmas Tree Week could be your excuse to browse this year’s selection of pines.
We’ve provided you with tips for picking that perfect tree along with a list of nearby Christmas Tree Farms registered on the National Christmas Tree Association website.
Happy picking!
How to find the perfect tree (and keep it that way)
Searching for the perfect Christmas tree can be tricky — just ask Charlie Brown. But with these important tips from the National Christmas Tree Association and Nic Alexander, the manager of Oakland Nursery in Dublin, Ohio, family disagreements and drooping ornaments are a thing of the past.
1. When picking out a tree make sure to look for a fresh one. A fresh tree will have a vibrant green color, strong branches and strong needles. Another quick trick to spot a fresh tree is to look at the base of the tree. If there is a large amount of needles at the base, don’t buy it. This is usually a sign that the tree is dry and reaching the end of the road.
2. Pay attention to the type and quality of the tree, as there is a wide variety. Generally, Frasier Fur trees are the most dependable and longest lasting.
3. After the perfect tree is found, ask for a fresh cut at the base of the trunk at about a half inch. Make sure the cut is not made at an angle — it reduces the amount of water the tree can consume later on.
4. After making a claim on your tree it’s important to take different precautions in order to take care of it and yourself. When the tree finally makes it home, place it in a large capacity water stand after shaking the tree and checking for insects. Stay away from the ‘coffee cup’ size stands. Make sure that the tree fits the stand securely and will be able to absorb water.
5. Water the tree twice a day, once in the morning and once during the evening. This assures that the tree will not become dry, causing needles to fall. Quick Trick: Add Prolong fertilizer mix to the water; the tree will stay healthy and last longer.
6. Unplug Christmas tree lights before going to bed. There is an increased number of home fires during the Christmas season due to dry branches fusing with overheated tree lights. Being safe and smart is the best policy.
7. Christmas trees should live for about three to four weeks. When it comes time to pitch it, use a biodegradable trash bag that can be placed at the base of the tree before setting it. These bags can be pulled and tied over the entire Christmas tree, making the move to the recycle bin quick and needle free.
8. Christmas trees can be recycled. Typically, tree recycling programs are run on a local basis and can be found online at realchristmastrees.org or from a local news source.
Christmas Tree Farm listings
Compiled from christmastree.org
Beck’s Tree Farm
?Lancaster, Ohio
Cut & Choose: $25 - $35?Precut: $40 - $75
?Monday – Thursday: 12 – 4 p.m.
?Friday – Sunday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saum Family Farm
?Lancaster, Ohio
?Cut & Choose or Precut: $25 - $48
?Monday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.?
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sorg’s Yule Time Pines?
Mt. Perry, Ohio
?Cut & Choose or Precut: $40 - $45
Saturday: 10a.m. – 5 p.m.?
Sunday: 1–5 p.m.
Forest Trails Tree Farm?
Glenford, Ohio
?Precut: $19 - $32
?Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.?
Sunday: 12 a.m. – 6 p.m
