Now that most of you have harvested your bounty, my season is just beginning. As a part time christmas tree grower and seller I was wondering what kind of tree do you all put up and why? emory

-- Emory (NE PA) (et@hazleton.net), October 30, 2001

Answers

Response to Tiss the season...

Emory, you aren't going to like me much. If I bother to put up a tree, it's a small artificial tree. Since I currently have 2 young cats and a relatively uncivilized young dog, I am not putting one up this year for sure. But I have put up an artificial tree in the past because I would go away for nearly a week to spend Xmas with my parents, and I just didn't want to leave a (formerly) live tree unwatered for that long.

Also, I am something of a tree "snob" -- I would want a natural color tree. I hate those ones that have been sprayed green. The color does NOT look natural. They look strange. They look like artificial trees, and if it's going to look artificial, I might as well have an artificial one! Can you tell me why they spray the trees green? Does the market really require that? That's all that is available around here, as far as I have noticed. I grew up with trees that my dad went out into the woods and cut, so that is what I like.

I like your name, Emory. That was my great-greatgrandpa's name and my great-uncle (his son). You aren't related to the Sicklers are you? I think there are still a bunch of them in Pennsylvania (went from New York to Pennsylvania to Illinois, and my g-ggpa up to Wisconsin).

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

We use a live tree and plant it the day after xmas,most years we use a spruce{blue} or a holly,with small kids the holly will have to wait because of berries.

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

Hi, Emory~ I like a big natural tree, but I HATE, absolutely HATE sheared trees, and that seems to be about the only thing people grow anymore. Why anyone wants to lay their ornaments against a green cone is beyond me. I love to put glass balls well into the interior of the tree where they glisten and reflect, even when the tree is unlighted. With sheared trees you can hardly hang an ornament at all.

As for variety of tree, I like the spruces, but not a blue spruce: you might as well have a porcupine in the living room for a few weeks. Firs and balsom are OK, but I'd take a white spruce every time given the opportunity. Scots pine would do in a pinch. :)

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

Normally we go to a tree farm not far from us & cut one. They are never dry and I think this is important. We also have a couple small artificials that go in other rooms and we put the fake ones up early.

Renee, This year I want to do the real thing & plant. I thought I'd have to wait until spring. I live in COLO. and not sure we could dig a hole in Dec. Any suggestions for keeping it?

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

I agree with Jennifer about the sheared trees, I think they are awful. We have always cut our own (if we have one at all) and they are usually scraggly and lopsided, whatever we can find on our own property. But once you have them all filled up with decorations, they always look lovely.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

We almost always have a cedar tree cut from a neighbor's woods. They're never perfectly symmetrical, but every since we've been married (that's been 27 now)--my husband and now grown-up kids wait to hear me say "That's the prettiest tree we've ever had." Once when my husband had pneumonia, the boys and I were unable to go out and cut a tree. A friend had cut a tree much too big for them and only used the top. I took the bottom, and with a little wiring and trimming, it too got to be the "prettiest tree". Last year for various reasons we were so busy we bought a tree from the K of C lot. It was truly beautiful, but this year I will have a cedar again. It just smells like Christmas.

-- Debbie from S IL (dc1253@hcis.net), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

I definitely agree on the shearing and the green paint--don't do it. I really like a tree that's fragrant and holds its needles a long time. We don't put ours up until the winter solstice, but it stays up for most of January which is the darkest, dreariest time of the year. I like Frasier firs, but we like to cut a live one, and they're hard to come by here. One year we cut a cedar which was really pretty, but had no fragrance at all.

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

This is my most favorite time of year. I love the Spruce trees. For years we went to our farm and cut cedars. But now they are all too big for the house! My daughter is allergic to the spray they use on the trees so we have to be very careful where we get ours. May I suggest that you offer fresh cut trees, in the natural state! Good luck.

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

Joy, I don't spray my trees with any of the colorants that they sell. I think that most growers put it on to hide yellowing needles. You'll find these type of trees at large retailers like Lowes or Home Depot. A lot of these trees either are being cut right now or will be in the very near future(next week or two). Most people like their trees sheared so I shear them(but not to heavy), this way you have places to hang things. As for the Sicklers; the name dosen't sound familier. emory

-- Emory (NE PA) (et@hazleton.net), October 30, 2001.

Response to Tiss the season...

DW, perhaps you could pick a spot in the yard and dig your hole now... just make sure you stake the tree over the winter to keep the winds at bay. Also, water it in well and mulch heavy. If you keep it in the house a long time,(more than a week), take it into a colder but not freezing area (garage, shed) for a week or two to let it harden off and prep for winter. Emory, we live in the land of the frasier fir so that's what we tend to get. There's a fellow that sell's some of his on the side of the road near town for $10 a piece. It's the honor system, just leave the money in the coffee can...I love living in the country! This year we may have to have a small table top tree as the baby is just pulling up to walk and she'd just eat whatever she could pull down...merry christm...hey, wait a minute! Happy Halloween! :o)

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 30, 2001.

We always go to a tree farm about 7 or 8 miles down the road and cut one. Usually a monterey pine at least 6 ft. tall. I like big ones with enough room at the top for a star before it hits the ceiling at thats it. I have never seen one sprayed green. Maybe they don't do that here. I like the douglas fir ones too. I have never been into the spruce trees...my mom always got those though. I just love the smell of a fresh tree. I have never had an artificial one. We make it a family outing and have an argument about which one to get every year.... We have to vote...right there at the farm and only a majority can get the tree picked. Its not easy to get the one I want myself. But I can usually sway some votes with promises of freshed baked cookies..something like that. We always get our tree the first saturday in Dec. there is a local christmas parade and we usually go to that first and then go to cut our tree. Then that night we decorate it together.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), October 30, 2001.

i love douglas and fraiser furs. the spruce is the most beautiful, but they are so rare to find here.i wouldnt cut it even if if did find one>does anyone remember the silver artificial trees with the color wheel when we were kids.?? how awful!!!!!!!!!!

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), October 31, 2001.

I have a Norway spruce in a 5 gallon growing container that has wheels on it. Every Christmas I roll it in and decorate it. I prefer tha spruce because of the short needles, the long needles are harder to use the bulb hangers on. But I do have an American red pine that is also in a container that looks great, and that is in another room just draped with ribbon. This way I always have the perfect tree every year. I planted about twenty this way and finally got the right one. he rest were then planted outside.

-- MickeyD (michaelld@att.net), October 31, 2001.

Hi Emory, I think we put up Balsam Fir. That's mainly what is sold around here. If we went out in the woods to get a tree we'd likely pick out a fir, I guess because of tradition. It smells right, you know? Like Christmas.

-- Nancy in Maine (paintme61@yahoo.com), October 31, 2001.

Well, we usually pick the most pitiful tree, the one that no one else will want. Same with pumpkins. We feel sorry for the little ugly ones! Hey, by the way, I'm seeing trucks go by the house full of cut trees already! How the heck do they store Christmas trees that they've cut before Halloween??

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

Hey, I saw a Serbian spruce at the state fair this summer. Just beautiful. Does anyone know where I could buy seedlings of this type of spruce. The needles were softer than those of the Colorado spruce that is usually planted here. To plant a live Christman tree, dig the hole know and cover it with boards. Do not have the tree in your house for more than a few days before you plant it. Also, since we have really strong winds, I think that planting a smaller one is best.

-- vicki in NW OH (thga76@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

We buy our tree from the Youth Group at our church. They are usually quite fresh and also, the money goes towards activities for the children in the community.

-- Ardie/Wi (ardie54965@hotmail.com), October 31, 2001.

We usually get a balsam fir because they smell so good. I sweep up the needles as they fall and save them for craft projects like draft dodgers.

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), October 31, 2001.

I walk across the horse pasture and find a 10-12 footer that looks about right. They're au natural as we don't bother to trim them but it looks good in the cabin. A prior owner planted many, many Christmas trees. The trees are a mixture of blue spruce and balsam. I also make wreaths as gifts- I usually use blue spruce for that.

Stacy in NY- 5 miles from the PA border

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

I usually buy a less sheared fir from a neighbor for about 6 bucks.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 31, 2001.

We use one of our "thousands" of cedar trees. We have them all sizes, would love to donate one to the Whitehouse! LOL.... We have a neighbor that always asked if they can come and cut one. "Absolutely not" I always say. "You have to cut two of them!"

-- Rickstir (rpowell@email.ccis.edu), October 31, 2001.

I took the largest tomato cage I could find, turned it upside down and wired the legs together, forming a cone. I then took grape vine and wound it around the cone tightly until it was covered. I bought clear mini lights and wound them around, tucking in the wire where I could to make it less visiible. I hot glued lots of pine cones and sweet gum balls, sprayed it with a little varnish and decorate it with mini ornaments. It is really very pretty and I always gets lots of comments on it. When the season is over I simply place a large garbage bag over it and store it away.

-- jean from Ky (dandrea @duo-county.com), October 31, 2001.

Years ago I got fed up with the extreme cost of Christmas trees. Out in the woods around my home, there were a good many young long needle pines that because of the tree canopy, were not going to survive long. I started going out and cutting two or three of them and then wiring them together. I hosed them down outside and then put them in the tree stand inside. Turn it until the "best" side is found, maybe trim the end of a branch here or there to even it out.

Presto! A lovely Christmas tree! And it smelled wonderful. Have continued to do this same thing since then. Don't have any problem at all finding something to do with the money saved by not buying a commercial tree. Usually spend it on toys for kids who depend on others for a visit from Santa.

-- Carol - in Virginia (carollm@rockbridge.net), October 31, 2001.

Still using my artificial that we bought 10 years ago when we lived in an apartment, rule was brought in, no live trees. The first year there we had a huge real spruce, darned thing shed needles like crazy. When I took it out to the truck to dispose of it, I had it wrapped up in this big tarp and dragged it down the hallway. Ran into the super at the door. He said hi, what ya got there? Gee, come to think of it, haven't seen your boyfriend for a few days... Good thing he was easy-going, helped me get the thing out the door and down the stairs. When I came back in, here was this solid trail of needles down the hall, so I had to get the vacuum out and clean that up.

I would prefer a real tree, love the smell, but don't like the mess. Can't get a good fresh tree. Since getting the artificial I have made a quilted skirt, pictures of little animals on it, with a wide lace edge.

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), October 31, 2001.

When we lived in the city, we had a real tree that was potted, once it grew to large we planted it in the yard. The first Christmas in the woods we had another livetree that we put only cranberries, popcorn, and other things to feed the birds with, and had it outside. The birds destroyed the tree along with my only goat! We did the pick and cut your own tree for a couple of years, once the kids got older it wasn't fun. I now have an artificial tree which I actaully prefer, I can keep it up as long before Christmas or after as I care to, and it doesn't make a mess. Also doesn't have the pine smell to it which makes me sneeze. And we live in the National Forest! We have few cedars or pines that make natural shaped trees. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 31, 2001.

aaargh...got distracted and hit submit before finishing....

Just wanted to add that a real tree would really mess up that tree skirt.

Another advantage to the artificial is the way you can bend the branches into the shape you want. Makes it easier to hand ornaments.

-Chelsea

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), October 31, 2001.

Emory and Stacy.... Hello Neighbors!

I tend to agree with most of the others... a real natural looking tree is for me. There's just something about a genuine "woodsy" look to put my family in the Christmas spirit, and an inverted cone shaped conifer doesn't cut it!

Mary - NE PA

-- Mary (zoots25@hotmail.com), October 31, 2001.

Thanks for the "why" on painting trees, Emory.

I thought of a few more comments. I agree on the sheared trees, can't imagine how I forgot about THAT. Hanging ornaments further in on the branches and putting lights there are an important part of my decorating. I agree with Jennifer that the ornaments lying along the sides of the tree just look bizarre.

We usually have had balsams over the years -- nice soft needles, smell good, etc. One year, when I was newly married (not any more), we had a Scotch pine. It made a gorgeous tree, but it shed needles like crazy and was sort of prickly when decorating. When it came time to clean up, I made the mistake of trying to vacuum up the needles. The longer needles sort of packed together and clogged up the vacuum hose. Had to use a long stick to break up the clog. So I don't ever plan on having a Scotch pine in the house again. I DID make a gorgeous wreath out of Scotch pine trimmings one year when we had some. I liked it better than the usual balsam that we used.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), October 31, 2001.

Joy, your post reminded me of the ONE time we tried a scotch pine. I had the same problem with the vacuum! The needles were everywhere and they stuck into the carpet! It was a pretty tree though.

-- Nancy in Maine (paintme61@yahoo.com), October 31, 2001.

TO "DW" IN COLORADO: Dig the hole now and keep it marked, mostly, for safety until you use it. The tree will do better if it's planted in the dormant season or just before spring.

-- Irish (zumende@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

Humbug. I don't do Christmas trees.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), October 31, 2001.

We always have winter decorations. Usually dig a hemlock, occ. a blue spruce. We pay too much I am sure, about $35-$45 for a five foot balled tree from a neighboring enterprise. Last year we cut the $%#* bamboo and wired it up for an airy looking lighted decoration of sorts. The leaves stayed green for a while before they curled a bit. Got lots of comments. I like hanging the ornaments and decorations from our travels and family. Back to a tree again this year as we like to plant them around the property.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), October 31, 2001.

We always get a fir of some type, but one of my sisters-in law had a gorgeous tumble weed tree two years ago. She just went out in the pasture and took two or three of the largest ones she could find, and tied them together. Decorated with a few mini ornaments and lights, and it was really pretty. I've seen (and plan to make this year) the trees made from tomato cages and grape vines, too, and they do look nice. Also saw one with very small teddy bears all over it, made from the cages and a few vines. Mini lights tucked here and there, and it was pretty cute. Uggh. It can't be almost time to look for a tree, can it? Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

We have a Norfolk Island Pine in a pot. It is a slow grower, so we have used it as a Christmas tree for five or six years now - started out about 3 feet high and is now six. This is not the style of tree most people think of as a Christmas tree, but it has grown on us.

-- Scott McAlpine (scottmcalpine@juno.com), October 31, 2001.

Shanon, the trees are sometimes stored in the back of the store but some may have them out as early as this weekend unfortunatly. This is why so many people have problems with needle loss,they have been cut for nearly two months by the time you take them down. The best tree that you can get is the one that you cut yourself,you know that it is fresh. I try to discourage people who come to my farm from cutting them before December 1st so a lot of people will tag one so they know that nobody will take their tree. As far as buying seedlings, I get my stock from Musser Forests in W.Pa. They can be reached at Musserforests.com emory

-- Emory (NE PA) (et@hazleton.net), October 31, 2001.