Christmas Tree Tips

Janell Wehr, Horticulture Educator from UWEX, came in to discuss some Christmas Tree Tips and tricks with James J. Malouf for Mid-Day Magazine.

The Conversation

The conversation began with the benefits of real Christmas trees. Wehr listed the benefit of having a real tree growing it’s life until it is Christmas tree sized. That one tree will have removed 1 ton of CO2 in its life by then. She listed a few ways that you can personally put your tree to use in your home gardens and yards. For those who do not have a yard to use their old trees most municipalities recycle those trees to be used for mulch in your community.

Quality Check

When considering which tree to buy, Wehr shared some tips. She firstly said that you should think of your tree as you would produce. You want to by the most local tree available for the freshest, longest lasting, option. Cutting your own was her personal preference. She also recommended running your hand along branches for shedding. Choose one with very little shedding and few brown needles.

Best Varieties

Wehr and Malouf were very excited to get into the discussion of the pros and cons for various types of trees used. Commonly used species are Firs, White Pine, Spruces, and rarely Junipers. Wehr took time to explain the benefits of each of these types, and some impractical notes for others. Generally she highly recommended Firs for best needle retention, Balsams for best aroma and softer needles, and mentioned White Pine as having weak branches.

Bringing Your Tree Inside

Wehr also took time to discuss the best way of preparing a tree for your home. She said it is important to have the trunk freshly cut, so take an inch or two off before putting it in the stand. She also recommended removing the lower limbs. She said that drilling holes in the trunk, or cutting the trunk at an angle are not as helpful. Lastly, she discussed the importance of never letting the tree stand go empty, and recommended a tree stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water.

Links

At the beginning of the interview Janell Wehr brought up a recent article, which you can read here. 

For more information regarding UW division of extension Wood County you can visit their website here.

If you would like to listen to the interview in full you can visit our website here.