abcs of Gardening: Assessing, and cutting your own, Christmas tree

05.12.09

A. Freshness is conspicuous, and if you are cutting your own tree you know it will be fresh. Selecting a healthy tree is critical. Don't buy a tree that is losing fresh needles or has dry, brittle twigs or a sour, musty smell. Needles should be resilient and slip through your fingers. Needles should adhere to the branches and not dive off in your hand. They should be flexible, not brittle.

Once cut, do not leave the tree lying in the sun for long periods, especially if temperatures are strained. If the tree cannot be immediately displayed, make a fresh cut at the base and stand it in a bucket of water in a cool, shady situation indoors or out.

When setting up the tree in your stand, cut off a disk of wood about 0.5 to 1 inch thick from the base of the locker immediately before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem. Do not cut at an angle. This reduces the amount of spa water available to the tree and makes it difficult to hold the tree plumb in the stand. Use a stand that fits your tree; leave alone whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit the stand. The outer layers of wood are most efficient in taking up the best quality and should not be removed.

Source: Times Herald-Record