by W. Alan Bruhin UT Extension Director, Sevier County, TN. Christmas trees are a traditional part of the festive holiday season. The most popular Christmas trees that are grown in Tennessee are Virginia pine, eastern white pine, eastern red cedar, Fraser fir and Scotch pine. Here are some tips for choosing and maintaining your Christmas tree.

1.      Measure the dimensions, including ceiling height, of the area where the tree will be placed before buying the tree. This will help you select the right size and shape of tree.

2.      The easiest method to obtain a fresh tree is to cut one from a Tennessee Christmas tree
grower. There are many growers of “choose and cut” Christmas trees in Tennessee. For a
directory of Christmas tree growers, contact the Tennessee Dept. of Agriculture, Division
of Marketing at (615) 837-5160 or access the following website:
http://www.picktnproducts.org/trees/cmastrees.html

3.      Trees in Christmas tree lots are often obtained from Michigan, Oregon, Colorado and New England as well as regionally in Tennessee and adjacent states. These trees may have been cut 4 to 6 weeks before they appear on the lot. Make sure to test the tree for freshness by placing a branch between the thumb and forefinger of your hand. Pull your hand toward you allowing the branch to slip through your fingers. The needles should bend but not break, and adhere to the branch, not fall off in your hand. A second test is to lift the tree a few inches off the ground and drop it on the stump end. Some interior brown needles should fall, but if green needles fall in abundance, find another tree.

4.       To keep your tree fresh, cut ½ to 1 inch of the bottom of the trunk. Immediately place the
stump end in water. Keep water in the tree stand at all times. A cut tree can absorb 2 or 3
quarts of water the first day indoors. If the base of the tree dries out, sap from the tree will form a seal that will not allow water absorption. Water additives to enhance the “freshness” of the tree are not recommended. Research has shown that these additives will deter water absorption. Only use clean water in your tree stand.

5.      The tree should be placed in a cool area. Keep your tree away from fireplaces, heat registers, radiators, heaters and televisions. Inspect your Christmas tree lights for broken insulation or faulty sockets each year. Always unplug tree lights when you are away from home and before you go to bed.