Fraser Firs Reign Supreme In Cut Christmas Tree Choices
The holidays are once again upon us and for those of us who celebrate Christmas, the inevitable decision of picking the right tree rears its coniferous head.
Last year a little over 28 million Americans purchased natural trees for Christmas use. Perhaps a sign of the times, there's a debate brewing over which are more environmentally friendly, cut or artificial. Cut trees obviously means a significant number of trees will be sacrificed for a one time use, however, artificial trees are made of PVC and manufacturing fake trees creates environmental waste. Let the debaters debate, there's only one tree for me: a fraser fir. Hey if it's good enough for the First Family, it's good enough for me.
Not surprisingly the Fraser fir is also the most popular tree sold. With so many different pine varieties, what makes the fraser fir so loved by so many? According to Toronto nursery owner Amin Datoo, fraser firs or as he calls them "the Cadillac of all Christmas trees" are popular because of their wonderful fragrance, needle retention, size and uniformity.
We've tried other varieties, including the white pine and the scotch pine. White pines make excellent roping and have soft, pliable needles, however they don't seem to have the same longevity of the fraser fir. If fraser firs are the Cadillac of Christmas trees, scotch pines are the Ford Pinto of trees. No offense to any lovely trees out there. Scotch pines are also a popular variety, mostly for the fast growth and lower cost.
Whichever tree variety you choose, choose carefully. Run your hand over the tree, do the needles come off easily? If so, this tree is dried out and you should look for another. Check the height. The average height of a normal room is 8 feet. If the tree you want it too tall, ask the tree seller to cut some off the bottom. This will also helps the tree absorb water, which you will want to do daily to help it last longer, as well as, cut down on potential fire hazards.
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