Ahhh, the choosing of the Christmas tree. For many, it’s a beloved family tradition, an occasion to celebrate. We get it. Which is why bringing Christmas trees into the Garden Market is such a favorite event for us!
We love seeing people come in, wander through the fragrant forest of live-cut firs, measure, ponder, and find The. Perfect. One.
In addition to bringing in absolutely gorgeous trees from our regional farmer partners, we want to share some guidelines to help you find the perfect Christmas tree for you and your family…
Know your measurements!
First, be sure you have measured the space you have designated in your home for the tree. Next, bring your measuring tape with you when you’re looking. And finally, measure the tree you’re considering. You really don’t want to pick a tree that’s too big. Don’t ask us how we know this.
Test for freshness
You want a fresh tree! There are two ways you can check for freshness… One way is to take a branch in your hand and gently pull along it. If the tree is fresh, it should retain its needles. Another way is to tap the base of the tree on the ground and see if any needles shake off. If only a few fall, yay, you have a fresh tree.
Check the needles
You should also check the flexibility of the needles. The needles on a fresh tree should break in half in your hand and shouldn’t bend.
Do you see spots?
You’re either about to faint or you have a bad tree… Quick! Sit down! If you don’t feel faint and the tree you’re looking at has brown spots or a musty smell, it’s sick or was cut a long time ago. Move on to the next one. (Just for the record, this is not something you would find here at the Garden Market.)
Look for spaces between the branches
This is all about the ornaments. Choose a tree with a bit of space between the branches if you want to be sure your ornaments will hang straight. In fact, you might want to bring an unbreakable ornament with you to hang on several branches to test if there’s enough room for it (and allllll the others) to hang straight.
Make sure it has a fresh cut
A fresh cut allows your tree to start soaking up water immediately and removes any calluses that may have formed. The Garden Market does this for you after you’ve chosen your tree.
What advantages do different varieties of Christmas trees offer?
For the Christmas season, the Garden Market offers three types of popular evergreens: The Fraser fir, the Douglas fir and the Noble fir.
Each of these has wonderful characteristics, and your choice depends on the things that mean the most to you. (Frankly, any one of these would make a wonderful Christmas tree!)
A Fraser fir has a great pine smell, silvery-green needles, and is more slender than other firs, so it may fit better in a smaller room. Its branches turn up slightly giving it a more compact look.
A Douglas fir has a pyramidal shape with beautiful green to blue-green needles. It also has dense growth, so typically there are no bare spots; this is a dependable tree that should last the entire season.
A Noble fir has a cool blue-green color with well-spaced branches. The branches are stiffer, so they can hold heavier ornaments.
So there you have it. All our best wishes as we head into this favorite holiday season, and good luck finding that perfect gem of a Christmas tree!
The Garden Market is here to help you if you should need it; we have a lovely selection of trees, and we offer delivery and set up services!
