Tag: christmas tree

How to Choose the Perfect Artificial Christmas Tree for Your Home

The holiday season is just around the corner, and for many families, that means it’s time to select the centerpiece of holiday décor: the Christmas tree. If you’re considering an artificial tree this year, you’re not alone. Artificial Christmas trees have come a long way, and they now offer an attractive, convenient, and eco-friendly option for bringing festive cheer into your home. Here’s how to choose the right tree for your space and why it might be the best choice over a real tree.

Consider Your Space
The first thing to consider when choosing an artificial Christmas tree is the space you have available. Measure the height of your room and the space where the tree will go. If you have a smaller area, such as a hallway or corner, a slim artificial tree could be perfect. These trees are designed to fit in tight spaces while still looking lush and festive. If you have a large living room or an open space with high ceilings, a full-size 9-foot tree will create a beautiful statement.

Choose the Style
Our artificial Christmas trees are designed to mimic the natural beauty of real trees like Douglas fir, balsam pine, spruce, and alpine. The type of tree you choose depends on your personal style and the look you want for your holiday décor. If you prefer a fuller tree with soft needles, a Douglas fir replica might be your best bet. For a more rustic, woodsy look, consider a spruce or alpine tree, which has a more open, natural branch structure.

Pre-Lit or Unlit?
Artificial trees come in two main options: pre-lit and unlit. Pre-lit trees come with factory-installed lights, which save you the time and effort of stringing lights yourself. They’re especially convenient if you want to set up your tree quickly and enjoy evenly spaced lighting. However, unlit trees give you the freedom to customize the lights to match your theme or color palette each year. If you love experimenting with different light displays or colors, you may prefer an unlit tree.

Durable and Easy to Maintain
One of the major advantages of an artificial tree is its durability. A well-made artificial tree, crafted with care, will last for many years, providing holiday cheer season after season. There’s no need to worry about watering the tree or dealing with needles falling onto your floor. Simply unpack it from storage, set it up, and it’s ready to go. This makes it a great option for families with pets or small children.

Why Choose an Artificial Tree?
Artificial Christmas trees offer several advantages over real trees:
Longevity: With proper care, an artificial tree can last for 10 years or more, making it a cost-effective choice in the long run.
Eco-Friendly: Unlike real trees, artificial trees don’t need to be cut down each year, helping reduce the demand for tree farming and transportation.
Allergy-Friendly: Some people are allergic to the pollen, mold, or sap found in real trees. An artificial tree eliminates these allergy triggers, allowing everyone to enjoy the holidays sneeze-free.
Less Mess: No fallen needles or sap to clean up means more time to relax and enjoy the festive season.

Choosing the perfect artificial Christmas tree involves considering your space, style, and lighting preferences. With so many options available at our garden center, you’re sure to find the tree that suits your home and holiday vision perfectly!

Caring for Your Fresh Christmas Tree

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the
eyes of children, they
are all 30 feet tall.
~Larry Wilde

Nothing says Christmas like the spicy scent of a fresh-cut Christmas tree — a real tree. Keeping your tree fresh through the holiday season can be tricky though! Here are a few tips from the pros on how to make that forest freshness last.

BRINGING THE TREE HOME
When purchasing your fresh Christmas tree, be sure to bring a blanket or tarp to cover the tree if you are tying it to the top of your car. This will protect your tree from drying out on the way home. Be certain your vehicle can safely transport the tree you purchase to your home. Bring rope or bungee cords to secure the load adequately. 

GIVE IT A FRESH CUT
Begin by cutting 1-2″ off the trunk of your tree, and immediately place it in water. Why? When trees are cut, pitch oozes out and seals the pores. By sawing a bit off the base, you’ll open up the pores, and the tree will be able to absorb water. Then add tree preservative to the water.

WATER, WATER, WATER!
The best way to keep your Christmas tree fresh is to keep it hydrated. It’s the single most important thing you can do for your tree. A Christmas tree may “drink” a gallon or more of water each day, so check the reservoir often! Making sure your tree has enough to drink each day will prevent needles from drying, boughs from drooping, and will help to keep the tree fragrant.

Never let the water level go below the tree’s base! A seal of dried sap can form over the cut stump in just four-to-six hours if the water drops below the base of the tree. If the reservoir goes dry — even once — the tree cut will seal and may not take up water again.

LOCATION IS KEY
A Christmas tree may look beautiful next to a fireplace, but heat sources will only serve to dry out your tree. Place your tree away from fireplaces, wood stoves, heating vents, and direct sunlight. The lights on the tree produce drying heat as well. Always turn the tree lights off when leaving home or going to sleep for the night.

KEEP IT COOL
Lower the temperature in the room with your tree. It’s another way to slow down the drying process. The lower the temperature of the room, the better the tree will do.

WHEN IN DOUBT,
DO WHAT THE PROS DO!
Professionals use products like Wilt Stop to prolong the freshness of Christmas greenery. It’s a natural, non-toxic product derived from the resin of pine trees. It has the unique ability to form a soft, clear flexible film on plants, and it’s what the pros count on to extend the life of fresh-cut Christmas trees. It’s a great way to prevent moisture from escaping and drying the branches out!

AFTER CHRISTMAS
The end of Christmas doesn’t have to be the end of life for your Christmas tree! Fresh-cut trees are useful in the garden in a number of ways.

You can use the pine needles for mulch. Pine needles are full of nutrients that enhance the pH of your soil and can prevent soil compaction in the winter.

Put your leftover Christmas tree outside, and decorate it with strings of popcorn and cranberries to feed the birds. Add pine cones which have been spread with peanut butter and rolled in bird seed. The birds will love you!

Use branches as extra insulation. Cut off the branches of your tree and lay them on your garden bed, the boughs will protect your plants from winter freezes and spring thaws. By laying them on your garden you’re giving your plants an even, steady temperature through the coldest months of the year.

A fresh-cut Christmas tree can be an easy and enjoyable part of your holiday celebrations. With just a little know-how, attention, and maintenance, your tree can provide that forest-fresh scent throughout the holiday season.