There’s probably no better holiday aroma, unless it’s the smell of cookies baking, than the “live Christmas tree.” I like putting my Christmas trees up early so it is almost impossible for us to have a live tree.

There are so many different kinds of evergreen trees that it can get a little confusing trying to get the one you really want. It seems firs, spruces and pines are three of the most popular Christmas trees.

Balsam firs are known for their wonderful fragrance. Their short, soft needles and strong, layered branches make them great trees for large ornaments in particular. If needle retention is important, choose a fir because it holds onto its needles the longest. They get four stars for fragrance and three stars for durability.

Blue spruces are known for their full, natural shape and soft fragrance. Their sharp stiff needles and thick branches also make them good at supporting heavy ornaments. Spruces firmly retain their needles, but only for three or four weeks, putting them behind firs and pines in terms of durability. They get a three-star rating for fragrance and two-star rating for durability.

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Scotch pines boast strong branches and needles that can be prickly but adept at holding large ornaments. Pines are virile, holding their needles for six to eight weeks. However, they emit little fragrance, so they are not the best choice if filling a home with the smell of a fresh tree is important.

Once you decide which kind of tree you are interested in, you’ll have to consider where to put it. We are very fortunate to have so many wonderful tree farms located right here in our area. Probably one of the best times we had as a family was going to get our fresh-cut Christmas tree. Of course, you can also choose to cut your own tree. We always preferred to ride in the wagon and let the professionals cut the tree.

It is suggested that if you decide to cut a tree yourself, then cut it as close to the ground as possible. Leave the lower branches intact until you get home. Then remove the branches and either discard them or save them for a mantel decoration, wreath or other holiday craft.

Did you know that most Christmas trees are between 8 and 10 years old? This is one of the reasons why there will be some dead or brown needles come off the tree.

You need to make a fresh cut on the base of the tree when you do get it home. This helps the tree to absorb water, which, of course, is very important for your tree. Be sure and check the water level in the stand every day. Most trees “drink” about a gallon of water a day. It is a good idea to keep at least two gallons of water in the stand.

Well, hopefully this has helped those of you considering a fresh-cut Christmas tree. For more information on selecting Christmas trees, check out the Coles County Extension office home page. On Today’s Feature you will find “Christmas Trees & More,” which contains details on tree types, farms, traditions and even recipes for tree shaped cookies, brownies, cheese spread and more. Go to extension.uiuc.edu/coles/.

So far, we have seven Christmas trees up but as of yet not a “live” one. For the time being I think that is the way I would like to keep it.

Source: The Journal Gazette – Times Courier