---

One of the most traditional ways to celebrate the holiday season is to display a decorated Christmas tree in your home. There are several things to know about finding the tree you want and about keeping it at its best throughout the season.

"Real" Christmas trees send out a familiar aroma with an instant reminder that Christmas is here. The pleasant scent isn't the only reason to purchase a real Christmas tree. Real Christmas trees are a renewable, recyclable resource planted on land that may not support more intensive agriculture. Trees that are harvested this year are replaced by new seedlings next spring. While they're growing, they shelter wildlife and prevent soil erosion. Christmas trees also provide oxygen and clean the air. Unlike artificial trees, which are mostly produced overseas, tree farms in Minnesota provide jobs for many people. Artificial trees, which are used on average of five to six years, are tossed in a landfill where they take up space for years to come.

Every year people inquire about using a living, potted evergreen as a Christmas tree. Unfortunately, a spruce, fir or pine won't make a good potted Christmas tree in our harsh climate. Under normal conditions, they can't make the transition from the warmth indoors to the extreme outdoor conditions with wind, ice, cold temperatures and the combination of sun and shade. Even digging a planting hole in advance isn't enough to help start a tree outdoors and maintain it into summer in Minnesota.

An exciting aspect of the holiday season is the opportunity to buy a pre-cut or "cut your own" tree at a local farm. The surest way to purchase a fresh tree is to cut it yourself at a tree farm. There are things you can do to try and make your tree last until the New Year. There are many choices and you should understand the pros and cons of each species.

Fir trees are a favorite of many as Christmas trees, wreaths and garland decorations. Balsam fir is the only true fir native to Minnesota. The needles are dark green, flat, about one-inch long and very soft. This tree is deliciously fragrant and the layered branches are good for decorating, but the flexibility may limit the use of heavy ornaments. Fraser fir has soft, flat needles with an excellent fragrance. The needles are dark green with a silvery underside. These attractive characteristics, including excellent needle retention, are sure to fetch a premium price. Canaan fir is similar to the balsam and Fraser fir. Although it's a newcomer to the Christmas tree market, it is becoming more well-known and popular. Its needles are one-inch long.

Colorado spruce trees don't always grow well in our climate, but they can make stunning Christmas trees. They are the best of the spruces for needle retention, and are defined by their stiff needles, which can make handling this beauty rather unpleasant, but the needles are good for heavy ornaments.

Spruce foliage varies from powdery blue to mint green. White spruce is greener in color than Colorado spruce, but some people don't like the interesting odor of the foliage. Needles are almost an inch long. Black Hills spruce, a variety of white spruce, is sometimes sold for Christmas trees as well. The needles of Black Hills spruce are shorter and darker green. Norway spruce has shiny, dark-green foliage with needles about a half-inch long, and fair retention.

White pine is a common Minnesota tree with flexible, soft needles and smooth, shiny bark. The needle color is lacy blue-green, which holds needles well, and has a lovely, crisp fragrance. White pine is reputed to cause fewer allergic reactions than other Christmas tree species. Scotch pine is a bushy tree with a lot of outside surface to decorate. The one to three inch needles have a nice scent and excellent retention. This tree can be light green in color, so artificial colorant is often used. Red (Norway) pine is the Minnesota State Tree! Its needles are longer than other pines, but retention is similar. This is a regal, dark green tree with stout branches that will hold a myriad of decorations.

Once you've selected your tree, position it with the bottom side forward for the drive home, so the needles won't blow off. Before bringing your tree indoors, make a fresh cut off the bottom of the trunk; one to two inches will be sufficient. This step reopens the tree stem so it can take up water. Afterwards, immediately place the trunk into a bucket of clean, warm water. A fresh tree will absorb as much as a gallon of warm water or more within the first twenty-four hours as it warms up, and more than one quart a day thereafter of cool water. Never whittle the sides of the trunk to fit the stand; water is also absorbed through these precious outer layers of wood.

Christmas trees are very thirsty! Do not let the tree become parched. Water helps prevent the needles from drying out, the boughs from drooping and the fragrance from fading. Do not let the water level in the stand drop below the fresh cut or the stem will reseal and be unable to take in water. Check water level daily. Plain, cool tap water is by far the best. Adding homemade concoctions or commercial additives to the tree stand water may be detrimental to a tree and may affect moisture retention and increase needle loss. There are no potions that preserve trees or make them less flammable. Position the tree away from direct sunlight, fireplaces, heat registers and electronic devices. These will speed up the evaporation and moisture loss from a tree.

Lastly, when the holiday season ends, return the tree to nature by cutting off the branches as mulch for flower beds. Another idea is to stick it in a snow bank and string it with popcorn, berries or peanut suet to attract cedar waxwings, cardinals, chickadees and other birds and to extend your enjoyment beyond the season.

+++++

VOICE MAIL: You can leave a question for a volunteer Master Gardener at 651-674-4417. Depending on the volume of calls, they try to respond within a couple of days. During office hours ask for the Master Gardener voicemail, after hours, select ext. 18. You can also get your question answered on the web at: www.extension.umn. edu/askmg.

The Chisago County Extension Office moved Wednesday, December 5, to share office space with Veterans Administration in the Senior Center building at 38794 6th Avenue in North Branch. Our new phone # is 651-213-5430.

Information on our spring events, including the plant sale will be posted on our website as plans are firmed up www.extension.umn. edu/county/chisago/mg.

---