The act of bringing an evergreen tree into the house and decorating it was tradition long before it became known as a "Christmas" tree.  The original tradition was not tied to any particular religion.  The oldest record of a tree being cut and decorated as a Christmas tree dates back to 1605.

What kind of Christmas tree should I buy?

That depends on your personal preference, but here are some things to consider. When were the trees that you are looking at cut?  It varies, and it makes a big difference.  If you go to tree farm and cut the tree yourself, you know when it was cut.  If you buy your tree from a local, relatively small tree farm you'll have a pretty good idea when it was cut, or at least you can ask.

Think about who it is that is selling the trees.  Where did they get them?  There are really large tree farms that cut tens of thousands of trees each year and ship them to retail locations in a variety of different states.  I'd venture to say that some of the trees farms do a better job of shipping a fresh tree than others.

But the truth is, large tree farms have to start cutting weeks in advance of the ship date in order to fill all of their orders.  These farms use varying methods of keeping their trees fresh. In some cases they cut them and throw them in a pond to keep them moist until it's time to ship them.

Look at the trees closely.  Shop around.  Are the needles already starting to look and feel dry?   Grasp a branch and pull away from the tree.  Did any or many needles come off?  A tree that will easily shed green needles on a sales lot is probably too dry.

Keep in mind, Christmas trees with longer needles, like White Pine or Scotch Pine tend to hold their needles longer before they start shedding.  Short needled trees like Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Black Hills Spruce tend to start shedding needles more quickly.  The exception to the short needled trees would be Douglas Fir.  Douglas Fir holds its needles much better than other short needle varieties.

Taking Care of the Tree Before you Bring it Inside

Unless you buy the tree really close to home, you should wrap it in a tarp or Christmas tree bag for the ride home.  Being inside a warm van or tied to the top of a car will pull much needed moisture from the tree.  You should do everything you can to keep the tree as moist as possible before you bring it inside.  If you are not going to put the tree up for a few days keep it outside out of direct sun and stand it up with the stem of the tree in a pail of water at least 6" deep.

Re-cut the Bottom of the Tree

As soon as a Christmas tree is cut it starts to seal the fresh cut with sap.  The longer the tree is cut, the more sealed the bottom of the tree becomes, to the point of it not being able to absorb water when you stand the tree up in your house.  So as soon as you get it home, cut about 1" off the base of the tree and immediately get the tree into some water.  Make your cut straight across the bottom of the tree.  Do not cut at an angle.

Maintain High Humidity Around the Tree

Once you have your tree inside make sure it has an ample supply of water in the tree stand and check the water daily.  Especially for the first few days, that's when the tree will be the thirstiest.  Do not put the tree where it will receive direct sunlight, or in front of a heat register where it will have hot air blowing on it.

Keep in mind, the air in your home is trying to pull moisture from the tree.  Your job is to keep that tree hydrated.  Placing a portable humidifier in the same room as the tree helps to keep your tree healthy longer.  Use cool lights on your Christmas tree and never leave the lights on when you are not home.

Enjoy your tree!  In few days I'll send you some tips on caring for a live tree that is balled in burlap.

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