Holiday Tree Selection and Care John J. Pipoly III, Ph.D., FLS UF-IFAS/Broward County Extension Education Parks and Recreation Division [email protected]
Abies concolor Violacea Pseudotsuga menziesii Pinus sylvestris Violacea White Fir Douglas Fir Scotts or Scotch Pine Types of Holiday Trees-
Common Name Scientific Name Plant Family Name Violacea White Fir Abies concolor 'Violacea' Pinaceae White Fir Abies concolor Pinaceae Japanese Fir Abies firma Pinaceae Southern Red Cedar Juniperus silicola Cupressaceae Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Cupressaceae Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus Pinaceae Glauca Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus 'Glauca' Pinaceae
Scotch Pine Pinus sylvestris Pinaceae Virginia Pine Pinus virginiana Pinaceae Douglas Fir Pseudotsgua menziesii Pinaceae Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir Pseudotsgua menziesii var. glauca Pinaceae http://www.flchristmastrees.com/treefacts/TypesofTrees.htm MORE TYPES OF HOLIDAY TREES SOLD IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Southern Red Cedar Eastern Red Cedar Virginia pine Juniperus silicicola Juniperus virginiana Pinus virginiana Selecting and Purchasing Your Tree 1. Measure the area in your home where you will display your tree. Trees on display will appear much smaller than they really are so you should have the maximum width and height calculated before going to the tree sales area. Bring the measuring tape with you so you can verify dimensions before buying.
2. Once you decide on the species and its dimensions, you should conduct the PULL test by grasping a branch ca. 6 inches below the branch tip, and while pressing your thumb to the inside of your first two fingers, gently pull away to see if needles fall or if the tree is fresh. A mild shake of the tree might also be enough to see if there are just a few needles falling or if there are too many that are dead.
3. Be sure that your vendor helps you wrap the tree with twine or another suitable material. Put the BASE of the tree forward, so any wind will go with instead of against the branches. It is better to cut the bottom of the tree yourself at home rather than exposing a new surface to drying. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr-423-w.pdf Selecting the Holiday Tree Stand The main characteristics to look for in a tree stand are: • Stability (to hold the tree upright) and ease of set-up • Adequate water capacity (about one quart for each inch of stem diameter) • Ease of set-up • Stands can be made of metal, metal and plastic, or just plastic • Some stands use clamps to hold the tree in the stand and use a foot pedal and ball system to set the tree straight • They can be small or have a small pan with 4 or more large legs to stabilize the tree • Stands can cost anywhere from a few dollars to a large sum. A moderately priced stand in the $15 to $25 range should provide adequate stability for trees less than nine feet tall and is reusable
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-christmas-tree-stands-2012-apartment-therapys-annual-guide-180806 How to set up and maintain your Holiday Tree 1. Cut off the bottom ½ inch to 1 inch from base of the tree’s trunk. 2. After cutting off the bottom, place tree in water very quickly, before sap dries, in one gallon of TAP, UNFILTERED water. 3. As you are fitting the tree into its stand where it will be displayed, KEEP THE BASE OF THE TRUNK MOIST and put it back into water as soon as possible. 4. Use tap water because the chlorine in it will retard the growth of fungi. Do NOT use filtered, bottled or distilled water. 5. Do NOT add sugar or aspirin to the tree’s water as they offer no advantage whatsoever and will “clog” the water conducting tissue (xylem). 6. Be sure the tree will not be in a draft, nor in direct sunlight. 7. CHECK your tree daily, as trees can uptake as much as 1 quart of water per inch diameter of trunk.
* http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/choosing_the_right_christmas_tree#scots Broward County Parks and Recreation Division UF/IFAS Extension Education Section 3900 SW 100th Ave, Davie, FL E-Mail: [email protected] Websites: http://www.broward.org/Parks/Extension/UrbanHorticulture/Pages/Default.aspx http://www.broward.org/Parks/ThingsToDo/Pages/GardeningQuestionsAnswered.aspx
John Pipoly III, Ph. D., FLS, Urban Horticulture & Natural Resource Management Agent rev 5-2015
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