Christmas Trees: Not So Simple, Not So Quick

December 8th 2009

If you don't buy artificial trees every year for the Christmas festivities, then you might be astonished to learn that you're just an amateur! That's right. You probably go to the Christmas tree lot at your local Home Depot and just pick out the biggest one. However, there is much more to it than that, as any rural family will tell you. Just by going out into the forest, the National Christmas Tree Association says you can find more than a dozen different types of Christmas trees.

The National Christmas Tree Association lists the following trees in order of popularity amongst Christmas tree connoisseurs. Arizona Cypress, Colorado Blue Spruce, Concolor Fir (White Fir), Eastern Redcedar, Fraser Fir, Leyland Cypress, Norway Spruce, Virginia Pine, Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Douglas-Fir, Eastern White Pine, Grand Fir, Noble Fir, Scotch Pine, and White Spruce are all trees available to forest denizens of the rural areas of the United States. They all look similar and congruent but differ slightly on minor hygienic and aesthetic points. One thing is for certain, all are green.

Most people, however, get artificial trees which they package up in cardboard boxes to take out every year. Watch out though because the dog or cat in the family can be poisoned by the artificial mix of substances at the base of the artificial tree. Also, needles can come unstuck and pose choking hazards to family pets. Furthermore, watch out for bugs, rodents, and tree fungus that may make it into your home. For these reasons, it is better to go with a nontoxic mix and an artificial tree safely tucked away in the attic or basement to be taken out every year. That saves money and time and no one can tell the difference except for the smell.

If you're getting a real tree, there are some tips before purchasing that can come in handy. First of all, make sure you know the height and width dimensions of your room before purchasing a tree. A big giant tree may look good to daddy, but it may be a no-no in terms of viability and practicality. It is best to get a tape measurer and measure the dimensions of the room before shopping for a tree. Again, take the tape measurer with you to the retail lot and allow for half a foot for the angel or star on top and the tree base. Make sure the retail lots puts the trees in the shade so sun damage doesn't occur during the day. The trees' aesthetic qualities can get compromised and lose scent and color if they're out in the sun all day. Make sure that the needles break crisply without bending profusely. They should snap like a carrot and be extremely easy to break. That will indicate the freshness of the tree and its indirect measurement of home hygiene appropriateness. Bad odor, needles that are not breakable, and discoloration of the tree itself are bad signs for any neophyte tree shopper.