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How to Choose and Harvest Your Own
Christmas Tree
You are about to purchase a natural Christmas tree. Since natural trees aren’t manufactured, each tree has its own unique characteristics. Some are thin with lots of
space between branches, some are full on only one side, and some have unique branching like bonsai trees. This is
your opportunity to use your artistic talents to create a unique Christmas tree. Open spaces between branches provide
opportunities for dramatic presentation of special ornaments or natural elements like birds
nests and birds. Use your imagination and have fun decorating your tree.
The tree you harvest is farm
fresh and will stay green throughout the Christmas season if you care for it properly as follows:
Cut your tree as close to the ground as possible, because you will have to cut off another inch or more
when you get home. This is because the trees sap will quickly seal the cut and prevent water from being absorbed.
When you get home cut off an inch or more from
the trunk and immediately put it in the tree stand. Make sure your tree stand has a large reservoir. A tree can absorb up to two quarts of water a day!
If you aren’t ready to decorate when you get home, store the tree in an
unheated space.
Check the water level frequently. If the trunk is out of water it will seal up again and you will have to cut
another inch off the trunk. If you can’t cut any more off the trunk, bore a ¾” hole up into the trunk about 2
inches.
Before you place your tree stand, put your Christmas tree disposal bag under it. When you take down your
tree, simply remove the stand and pull the bag up around the tree. This will eliminate any loose needles from
falling as you take the tree out for recycling. Once the tree is outside remove the bag
from the tree and recycle seperately.
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