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Oh, Christmas tree!
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December 3, 1999: 7:05 a.m. ET
Not all trees are created equal. Make sure your evergreen fits your needs
By Staff Writer Nicole Jacoby
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - With excessive turkey and stuffing no longer keeping you prisoner in your own home, you may be just about motivated enough to start thinking about buying a Christmas tree.
About 33 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States each year, with a large chunk of sales taking place the week after Thanksgiving.
But before you join the throngs of shoppers in retail lots and choose-and-cut tree farms across the country, you might want to give some thought to where that tree is going to stand -- and whether there’s any special characteristics you should look for.
For one, you’ll want to select an area away from radiators, wood stoves or heat vents to avoid fires. The space should also have one or more electrical outlets nearby to plug in lights.
Because trees often look smaller outdoors, you should really figure out how big a tree you will really need in advance. Measure the area for maximum height and width, subtracting some room for tree stands and treetop ornaments.
Accurate measurements will eliminate the need for pruning or cutting once the tree is in your home -- an advantage since pruning can produce sap that damages walls, floors and carpets.
Many consumers are determined to land the "perfect” tree -- one that is equally full on all sides -- but a tree with a flat side or two may be more practical if the tree is meant to stand in a corner or against a wall. It may also reduce the need for messy pruning.
The ‘perfect’ tree?
Not all trees are created equal and some may be more suited to your family than others.
If you have a sensitive nose, for instance, your choices may be somewhat limited.
"Some trees have better scents than others and trees with strong aromas are very popular right now,” a spokeswoman for the National Christmas Tree Association said. "But for people with allergies, they might want something different.”
White firs, Fraser firs and balsam firs all have strong scents, while the milder aromas of eastern white pines may be better for the allergy-prone.
Some trees are better at retaining needles than others. The Colorado blue spruce, Fraser fir, balsam Fir, Eastern white pine and white spruce see fairly negligible needle loss. The Norway spruce, on the other hand, may leave you vacuuming needles for months.
Trees also vary in other ways. Some have stronger branches that may be better for supporting heavy ornaments and others may have relatively sharp needles, which could be an issue if pets or small children are part of the household.
Longevity can be another factor. The noble fir and Scotch pine are popular because they tend to last longer than other trees. For more information on tree types and their characteristics, click here.
The freshness test
Trees should last about 4 to 6 weeks if properly tended, but if a tree is already old when purchased, you will get fewer days of enjoyment from your perennial.
Be especially careful when buying trees from retail lots. These can be as young as one day or as old as one month, so try and find out when the most recent delivery of trees took place.
Even trees within the same load can vary, so it pays to test your prospective tree for freshness. The needles of the tree should flex -- but not break -- when bent.
You should also shake or bounce the tree on its stump. You should not see an excessive amount of green needles fall to the ground, though some loss of interior brown needles is normal and will occur over the lifetime of the tree. You can also check for fresh resin where the stump has been cut.
Finally, take note of how the trees have been stored. If trees have been exposed to a lot of wind and sun, you may want to take your business elsewhere.
Trees bought at choose-and-cut lots tend to be fresher and are generally cheaper than those sold at retail lots.
Mail-order trees -- ordered over the phone or online -- are nearly impossible to assess ahead of time, so you might want to go with a company that gives some sort of a guarantee.
"It’s definitely not the same as going and getting it yourself. You may not always know what condition the tree is when it is shipped,” the NCTA spokeswoman said. "But (companies) have certain standards and regulations they have to go by... so you’re not going to get a Charlie Brown tree,” referring to a sparse tree like the one depicted in a popular animated Christmas show.
Mail orders may be particularly practical for consumers without cars or elderly folks who can’t carry heavy loads.
Proper care for your tree
Proper care and maintenance of your tree will ensure it retains its healthy look throughout the holiday season.
Keep the tree in a sheltered, unheated area, such as a porch or garage, to protect it from the wind and sun until it is ready to be trimmed.
Once you are primed to decorate, make a quarter-inch cut across the stump of the tree and place it in its stand, preferably one that holds at least a gallon of water. If at all possible, try and attach the stand to the tree under water to maximize water absorption.
Be as diligent as possible about watering the tree, especially in the initial days. If water drops below the base of the tree in the first four to six hours, a seal of dried sap will form over the cut stump, preventing water absorption down the line. If this happens, another fresh cut needs to be made.
A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water or more in the first 24 hours and one or more quarts a day thereafter. Water is important because it prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and the boughs from drooping. Water also keeps the tree fragrant.
The artificial alternative
Although some traditionalists may balk at the thought, artificial trees are a good option for consumers who don’t like a lot of fuss.
Besides lasting longer, fake trees don’t leave messy needles and they can be reused season after season. They are also flame retardant and can be a godsend for the allergy-prone.
Many consumers also buy fake trees in the belief they are more ecologically sound, preventing the chopping of forest timber. But Christmas trees are, in fact, not an endangered species.
"A lot of people have this idea that these trees are cut down from the forest, but they are actually grown as crops like corn and green beans,” the NCTA spokeswoman said.
And Christmas trees can be recycled to create mulch and help fill hiking trails and parks.
Local trash haulers usually set up a time for picking up old Christmas trees sometime after New Year’s Day, so don’t miss this important date if you don’t want your tree to go to waste. 
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