Are you Christmas tree shopping or looking for the perfect pine for your lawn for long-term festive decor opportunities? Here are some of the best pine trees and how to pick them so you can enjoy the holiday season knowing you found the perfect tree.
What Makes a Tree a Christmas Tree?
Gathering as a family around the Christmas tree is a tradition for millions of Americans, and for good reason. The Christmas pine tree has been a symbol for decades in the United States, Europe, and across the world, making it perhaps the most recognizable holiday decoration. There are a few species of pine that work for indoor and outdoor Christmas trees, so let’s review which ones are most well-equipped for Nashville this Christmas.
As for which pine tree is best for Christmas, the Fraser fir is perhaps the most popular type for use as an in-home Christmas tree. Fraser firs grow naturally in eastern Tennessee in the Appalachians, making this local a hit across the nation. These trees are hardy and durable, making them easy to transport across the country and creating an industry of harvesting and shipping Christmas trees right here in the southeast. The Fraser fir is known for holding onto its needles for quite some time—a feature that is important to homeowners, considering needle drops can get messy quickly. The Fraser fir is an endangered tree species, but thanks to its popularity as a Christmas tree, it’s not going anywhere. The tree takes about ten years to reach the proper height for a Christmas tree (about six or seven feet), and it is grown across the globe to meet the needs of Christmas celebrants everywhere.
Another native southern pine, the eastern red cedar is notable for its natural Christmas tree shape. Other types of trees cultivated for use as a Christmas tree need to be groomed to maintain the conical shape, but the eastern red cedar is easy. This makes it a popular choice for Christmas tree farms that offer a “cut your own tree” option.
The Virginia pine is a popular option for Christmas, and it is especially notable for its ability to grow in warmer climates. This tree has a broad range from Pennsylvania to Mississippi, and it is very dense and stout when compared to other types of pine trees. Along with the Fraser fir, the Virginia pine is often credited for starting the massive Christmas tree farm industry here in the southeast, making it a local icon.
Maintaining Your Christmas Tree
Once you’ve got your Christmas tree inside, you need to make sure that it’s properly cared for. Many trees come with some basic instructions for care, but if you’re new to this or have noticed your trees losing their needles early in previous years, you may want some extra help. So what are the best ways to maintain your Christmas tree for a long and colorful holiday season?
The best way to preserve your tree and extend its time without needle loss is to keep it in the traditional water reservoir. Stands that provide ample water are a must. A good rule of thumb is to have one quart of water for every inch of diameter your tree’s trunk has. Monitoring and refilling your Christmas tree’s water reservoir regularly will make sure it lasts all season. When first putting your tree in the stand, it’s recommended to cut about half an inch off the bottom of the trunk in a straight line. This helps the tree absorb water and should give you even more time before the needles drop. Getting your tree in water quickly is important, so if you don’t plan to set it up right away, store it in a cool place with water immediately.
Keep Christmas trees away from heat sources like fireplaces and heat vents, as the higher temperatures can dry the tree out quicker, leading to needle loss. Christmas trees can be fire hazards if improperly lit or kept too long. As the tree dries out, it becomes more and more of a fire risk. Make sure that the lights you are using are modern LED lights to help mitigate fire risk. While many people hold onto their Christmas tree lights for generations, these older bulbs and wires are at a higher risk of starting a fire. Finally, when the Christmas season comes to a close, what do you do with your tree? There are many Christmas tree recycling programs that make use of the trees, either for their wood or as a decoration. Some zoos take donations of old Christmas trees as enrichment decorations for animal enclosures. Other programs mulch the pine trees to create mulch for public parks and walking paths, giving your tree one more job after the holidays come to a close.
Want Christmas Trees Year-Round?
For those wondering what pine tree qualifies as a Christmas tree, we like to think that when it’s decorated, any pine can be a Christmas tree. Pine trees make a great addition to your home’s landscaping, providing that touch of green to your lawn year-round. When Christmas comes around, lighting your pine tree can help give your home that extra Christmas spirit. Popular outdoor pine options for homes vary, depending on what size you’re looking for. Most pine trees we use for Christmas trees are not nearly fully grown, meaning that if you transplant one at your home, it’ll eventually grow larger. The Fraser fir, for instance, can grow anywhere from 30 to 50 feet tall if left to naturally develop. Lighting a six-foot-tall Christmas tree in your own home is a simple task, but taking on the lighting of a larger tree is a tougher proposition. If you want your outdoor pines lit this Christmas, it’s best to rely on experts to safely light them. The Parke Company has been helping Nashville residents decorate for years, and our services include tree lighting. With our knowledge and equipment, we can safely decorate your trees, no matter how large they are.
Embrace the Holiday Spirit
This holiday season, you want to pick a Christmas tree for your home that’s going to last, so ask the experts. From tree lighting to transplants for your landscaping that will last for decades, trust the professionals at The Parke Company.