Proper Christmas Tree Care

Christmas trees are one of the most wonderful parts of the holiday season, but they do require attention and care. Some 30 million American families purchase natural Christmas trees each year, and it’s easy to understand why; the process is fun. There’s both a sense of adventure in selecting a tree and bringing it home, especially for children excited about the prospects of Christmas and a warm fuzzy feeling once the tree is displayed in your residence.

If you don’t exactly know which type of tree is best for you, don’t fret, because Bennett’s offers a wide variety of cut, living and flocked trees.

Cut Trees

These trees won’t last and do require a bit more care, but their beauty makes it a worthwhile endeavor.  The needles should be green and should not fall off the tree easily. Our selection of cut trees includes:

• White Spruce
• Scotch Pine
• Fraser Fir
• Concolor Fir
• Canaan Fir
• White Pine

You will want to make an additional cut about one inch above the previous one and use a stand that can hold about one gallon of water (the level should be checked every day). You can use products such as Vita Life to increase moisture retention and Wilt-Pruf to prolong the life of your tree. Natural cut trees (except Spruce trees) can be kept indoors for up to a month for the holidays.

Flocked Trees

If you aren’t familiar with the concept of a flocked tree, they are cut trees with an artificial snow-like substance that is sprayed on their branches. These trees are available in sizes from three to 10 feet and in multiple colors including:

• White
• Blue
• Green
• Pink

 

 

Living Trees

Living trees are a popular, sustainable option that can be planted outdoors after the holiday season. Bennett’s offers several varieties including:

• Green and Blue Spruce
• Dwarf Alberta Spruce
• White Pine
• Norway Spruce

To help make the transition smoother, you should not bring a living tree into your home more than three days before Christmas, and a living tree that has been balled or burlapped should only be inside for four to five days at most. Before the holidays you can keep your living tree outdoors, away from the sun and wind. You can also keep these trees in an unheated garage to help them adapt to indoor conditions.

Tips for Living Trees:

• Keep the root ball moist at all times
• Only use lights that give off very little heat on the tree
• Keep the tree away from direct heat sources and drying air from heat ducts
• After the holidays you should remove the tree and place it in an unheated garage or on a porch so it can slowly become accustomed to the outdoor environment
• Ask our staff for proper planting information

Christmas Trees in Lafayette, Indiana

Bennett’s Greenhouse wants to wish you a safe and happy holiday season. We are here to give you helpful seasonal hints and welcome you to give us a call at (765) 447-7636 with any problems or questions you may have regarding your Christmas tree.