Visit Your Local Christmas Tree Farm for a Fresh Tree

In the next couple of weeks, many Nebraska families will be buying a live Christmas tree. Why not consider buying locally from the many Christmas Tree farms found across Nebraska? Cutting a live tree locally ensures better quality and provides a unique family experience. As I can attest, you don't realize the value of this family experience until your kids have grown up.

There are a variety of tree farms designed for your needs. For example, if you want to rough it, you can go to farms where you and your family can spend hours looking over and selecting a tree. Once selected you can cut the tree and carry it back to your car. In other cases, you can go to a farm where life is much easier. Here, a horse drawn wagon will take you out to the trees. Upon selection of your tree, the wagon will take you back to the farm where you can wait drinking hot cider beside a fireplace. In the meantime, employees will cut the tree, wrap it and place it in or on your vehicle ready to be taken home. There are, of course, many farms that offer services between these two extremes. It is your choice.

To locate a Christmas tree farm near you, visit the 2003 Nebraska Christmas Tree Growers Directory.

Area trees also offer increased safety. Freshness is key in preventing fire hazards. A natural Christmas tree with moisture in its branches and needles is no more flammable than a fresh flower. A well-cared for Christmas tree can stay fresh and green for months. However, a neglected tree can dry out, drop needles and become a potential fire hazard in as little as a week. At least starting out, locally grown Christmas trees are much fresher than those cut and shipped from western and northern states, often months in advance of Christmas.

To ensure freshness, follow these tips:

• Cut or purchase a fresh tree for safety. Two tests may be useful. Gently stroke the needles or strike the stump on the ground. A fresh tree's needles will not fall off.
• After transporting the tree home, keep it outdoors until it's time to decorate. Keep the bottom of the stump moist in the snow or a bucket of water.
• Before erecting the Christmas tree, saw off about an inch of the bottom of the tree stem. Cut straight across, not at an angle. The fresh cut removes clotted resins that could prevent the tree from absorbing water.
• Mount the tree in a stand that holds at least a gallon of water. Check the water level daily and keep the stand full. A Christmas tree can absorb a gallon or more of water per day depending on its size. Although some people add sugar, cola, lemon-lime soda, food coloring or aspirin to water, there is no evidence these additives prolong the freshness of the tree. Instead, provide plenty of water. If the water level in the stand drops below the tree's cut surface, a seal will form as it would on a cut flower, preventing the tree from absorbing water.

Historically, the family Christmas tree came from natural forests. Today, most Christmas trees are grown and cultivated on farms to provide consumers with the best possible tree. It takes six to 15 years to grow a quality Christmas tree. During that time, each tree is annually pruned and pampered to achieve a symmetrical appearance. The most popular Christmas tree species grown in Nebraska include Scotch pine, white pine, Austrian pine, Colorado blue spruce, concolor fir, Douglas fir and Norway spruce.

In Nebraska, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture reports that more than 50,000 Nebraska-grown trees are available for the 2003 Christmas season. Buying one of these trees not only ensures freshness, but also supports the state's economy.