(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — As live Christmas tree shopping gets underway this holiday season, an expert with the Morton Arboretum sat down with WBBM to share some tips on how consumers should choose and care for their trees.
Spencer Campbell, the plant clinic manager at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois, said the most important factor in choosing a tree is freshness.
“You want green, flexible needles,” he said. “They should be firmly attached, pliable and fragrant. The best way to check for that, rub your hand around the branches, if the tree feels stiff, it's probably too dry.”
He said to put the tree in a stand with water within an hour of bringing it home — and to water it daily. Keeping the tree away from heat sources will also help keep it fresh for as long as possible.
Campbell said the tradition dates back almost as far as the holiday itself. Each year in the U.S., millions of Christmas trees are sold.
“It's a way to bring a woodland fragrance into your home and get you ready for the holiday season.
“Enjoy it while it lasts, because it’ll only last for several weeks, up to maybe six weeks at the most,” he said.
The experts at This Old House suggested going to a local farm when you can instead of a big box store for the freshest tree. Bounce the tree to make sure the needles stay intact. A tree that was cut too long ago will lose its needles when jostled.
Also, don't be afraid to grab some needles and check the scent. For the true Christmas experience, you want a tree that smells like your Balsam Fir Yankee candle.
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