Soon you will begin to see the nursery lots and retail lots getting ready to get their shipments of Christmas trees in. This is always an exciting time for children and parents to go out and pick and choose their Christmas tree for the home or business.

With that in mind, I want to give some information on varieties to choose from and how to select and care for the trees.

Evaluate your needs before buying:

• Measure ceiling height.
• Measure width of area.
• Consider aroma - Virginia pine has an Evergreen scent. Carolina Sapphire has a lemon and mint scent. Also consider allergies to pines.
• Consider foliage - Leyland Cypress and Carolina Sapphire have soft foliage. Virginia Pine has a sticky foliage.

Blue Spruce

• Very popular tree.
• Needles bluish-gray to silvery blue.
• Needles 1-2 inches long.
• Needle retention is excellent among spruces.

Balsam Fir

• Needles are three fourths to one and one half inches long.
• Needles dark green
• Needles are long lasting
• Attractive form and pleasing odor.

Fraser Fir

• Needles flattened and dark green on top.
• Needles one half to one inch long.
• Needles long lasting.

Concolor Fir (White Fir)

• Needles are one half to one and one half inches long.
• Bluish-green color.
• Pleasing color.
• Good needle retention.

Douglas Fir

• Not a true fir.
• Very popular tree.
• Needles dark green to blue green.
• Needles one inch to one and one half inch long.
• Needles fairly soft to touch.
• Trees average from 6 feet to 14 feet.

Noble Fir

• Needles one inch long.
• Needles bluish-green on top. Whitish below.
• Stiff branches.
• Needle retention excellent
• Trees average from 6 feet to 15 feet.

Leyland Cypress

• Popular tree planted in Louisiana.
• Needles dark green to gray.
• Little to no aroma.
• Found at many choose and cut farms.

Arizona Cypress

• Steely blue color.
• Dense lacy foliage
• Lemon-mint aroma

Virginia Pine

• Needles one and a half to three inches long.
• Branches stout and woody.
• Dense foliage.
• Trees average 4 feet to 10 feet

Scotch Pine

• Dark green needles.
• Stiff branches.
• Trees average 3 feet to 10 feet tall.
• There are many other varieties to choose from, but these are the most readily available.

Selection and Care of Christmas Trees

• Needle drop test - lift tree about 1 foot off ground and strike tree back down. If this results in a shower of needles falling, look for another tree.
• If traveling a long distance from the lot to your home, have it wrapped in a mesh wrapper.
• Once home, cut an inch thick section off the base of the trunk. Place the tree in a container of water in a garage or carport for at least a day before setting the tree up.
• Water, water, and water. Keep water fresh and check daily and add if needed. Make sure to locate the tree away from any type of heat source.
• Check wires and connections to all lights.
• Keep gift wrap and other flammables away from direct contact with tree.
• Only plug lights on if adults or responsible individuals are at home and can keep an eye on the tree.
• Never let the tree stand run out of water.