Strolling through rows of fragrant Christmas trees looking for the perfect one to take home is a popular holiday tradition for both adults and kids.
Sometimes a special fir finds its way into your heart, and other times you need a little help choosing.
David Perrigard, the manager at Maple Leaf Garden Centre in North Vancouver, says many people know what type of tree they want when they head to the store. And this year, three- to six-foot trees are very popular.
“We find a lot of people are going with smaller trees,” notes Perrigard, adding it may be due to shifting demographics or smaller house sizes.
Plus, smaller trees tend to be cheaper as trees are generally priced by size.
The height often correlates to the age of the tree as well, he explains. “An eight-foot tree will be several years older than a five-foot tree.”
Christmas tree stock usually arrives in late November, and the first two weekends of December are the peak times to pick one up.
There are four main types of trees to consider: Douglas, noble, Fraser, or grand fir.
Perrigard says the most popular type of tree tends to be the Douglas fir, but they are not necessarily the nicest.
They grow fast so their branches aren’t as stiff, which means they don’t hold ornaments as well, he says. They also drop a lot of needles, but they have the best fragrance.
“The Douglas fir, you walk into a room you can smell them,” he says.
The noble and Fraser firs have stiffer needles that don’t have as much oil in them, so they don’t smell as much. But Perrigard calls these the “premium” trees.
“The nice thing is they’ve got much tougher branches so you can hang heavier ornaments on them and lights and things like that much better. And usually there’s a little bit more space in between them too, so they show off ornaments a little better.”
The Fraser firs have a silver underside to the needles, which a lot of people like, he adds. And nobles are usually sturdy with a perfect pyramid shape and a strong green hue.
A grand fir sits somewhere in the middle of the Douglas and the Fraser with some attributes of both, he explains. They too have silver undersides, but grands have a softer, more elegant look and longer needles.
“They look quite nice,” says Perrigard adding, “All four trees are quite different.”
He suggests when choosing a tree to consider the height of the room it will be in and leave at least 18 inches from the ceiling.
Most trees for sale at various spots right now are local and fresh, but watch for lots of bare needles on the inside of the tree, which could be an indication that it’s older.
“If there’s still a lot of needles inside the tree then it’s probably fresher, stronger,” explains Perrigard adding, “You shouldn’t be seeing brown at this point. They should all be green.”
Once the tree is home, it’s important to water it every day, says Perrigard. And it should be given a fresh cut, which can be as little as half an inch at the bottom.
“The fresh cut allows the tree to start drinking water again and that will prolong its life through Christmas,” he explains.
The tree should be placed in water within an hour of getting a fresh cut, even if it’s placed in a bucket of water and left in the backyard.
“It’s a lot like a floral rose when you cut it it’s going to want to start drinking water,” says Perrigard.
