Tips for choosing a fresh Christmas tree

When it comes to Christmas trees; what type of family are you? Does your family believe that it’s never too early to put a tree up? Or do you prefer to wait until two weeks before or one week before the big day? For those of us that prefer a fresh, local tree; most of us wait until one to two weeks before Christmas to put the tree up. At BC Farm Fresh; we’re a two week before Christmas family.

Our traditions around Christmas trees began thousands of years ago. People used to bring evergreen branches into their homes at Winter solstice to remind them that the dark days would end soon and spring would come again. Even Romans used evergreen branches to decorate their temples.

Before you set out and decide upon the perfect tree:

• Measure the height and width of the area where the tree will be displayed. Cultivated Christmas trees tend to have an 80 per cent taper. This means that a tree that is two metres tall will be approximately 1.6 metres wide (7′ tall will be 5′ 6″ wide) at the bottom
• ensure your tree stand is large enough to hold four liters (one gallon) of water as well as the trunk of the tree
• Some tree species have more open foliage, stiffer branches or longer needles. Keep this in mind as decide on your perfect tree.
• Some have a stronger Christmas tree smell than others; ask the expert where you buy your tree.

Thanks to Murphy’s Christmas Tree Farm for the picture!