BUYING GUIDES..since 1995
|
GALT HOME:
Internet Guides - Finance - Audio/Video - Travel - Household/DIY - Health - Cars - Fashion - Sports - Entertainment - Cell Phones |
| MENU: Technology and Internet Guides | Travel | Health | Household | Sports ...independent online guides since 1995 |
Live Christmas TreesFor most people, the hallmark event of the Christmas holiday season is getting the Christmas tree and setting it up in the home. Christmas trees have been a popular tradition in the US for over a century and a half. Almost half the families in the US now use artificial trees, but for real tree fans, only the genuine scent of pine from a freshly cut tree will do! Most trees come from Christmas tree farms, while local cut-your-own lots are still popular in many rural areas. When selecting a Christmas tree, you need to consider a few things - how big of a tree can you handle (measure!), how will you be decorating it, how long do you want it to last, how much do you want to spend on a Christmas tree? Once you answer some of these basic questions, you can begin your quest for the perfect Christmas tree.
Types of Christmas TreesIn most regions, fir trees are the most popular type of fresh, live Christmas trees. The Douglas Fir is a perennial favorite, with a dense, cone shaped look. They are often sheared and shaped to get just the right look, and their densely packed needles makes it easy to wrap lights around the tree. At a tree lot, the Douglas Firs usually sell for about $30-$40 for a 6 foot tree. The Grand Fir is probably the most fragrant, filling your home with that Christmas smell. Not as hardy as the Douglas, the Grand should not be purchased and set up more than 2 weeks before Christmas. Pricing is similar to the Douglas. The Noble Fir is our favorite, with a more layered look to its groups of branches, rather than the solid cone shape of the Douglas. It's open spaces allow for more ornament hanging options and gives the tree more depth and dimension. Just make sure you pick a tree that fits the room it is going into. Larger rooms can accomodate larger trees, while small rooms will feel overpowered by a big, heavy tree.Fresh Christmas TreesBefore you cut or select a tree, take a look at your Christmas tree stand. How big is it? What is the maximum and minimum diameter trunk you can handle? While you can always throw in some blocks of wood to grab a smaller trunk, it is easier if you get a tree that will fit the way you want it to. If you plan on getting a fresh, live Christmas tree, you need to think about how long you want it to last and when you plan on setting it up. Most trees you find on lots are trucked in from a good distance away, meaning they are at LEAST 3-7 days old by the time you see them. You'll want to test them to see how fresh they are at the lot. Try bending some needles - fresh green needles should snap like a carrot, not bend like rubber (pine trees do bend, but firs should not). Grasp a branch lightly and pull your hand towards you -- again, most needles should remain in place and not go tumbling to the ground. Look for lots that store trees in a shaded, protected area, and find out how often new trees are delivered. Once you select a tree, make sure the bottom inch or 2 of the trunk is sliced off with a chain saw -- you need a freshly cut trunk to absorb water. If you are cutting your own tree, then freshness is not such an issue, since you know it is alive right up until the time you get there! You don't need to worry too much about how neat your saw cut is - almost all lot attendants have a chain saw to finish off your trunk with a nice, straight cut once you are ready to go.Caring for your Christmas TreeAssuming you have freshly cut trunk, as mentioned above, your main concern once you get the tree home is water, water, water. The tree will actually absorb most of the water through the sides of the trunk, not just the bottom, so having standing water a few inches deep is the optimum setup, requiring a good sized stand. Make sure the stand stays filled with water throughout the holiday season - check it daily at first to get an idea how much water is being absorbed. People are often surprised by how much water a newly cut Christmas tree needs, finding the stand empty the next morning. Obviously, once a tree has been cut it begins to dry out and die, but proper watering can keep your tree looking its best for 3-5 weeks. Other Christmas tree tips include the obvious - keep away from candles, heaters, fireplaces, and open flame; do not cut up and try to burn in your chimney fireplace; don't overload electrical cords, and turn off al Christmas tree lights when going to bed at night and when leaving the house.
Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
Send email to: galtemail (@) yahoo.com
|
