Fresh Cut Christmas Trees: Good for the Environment and the Economy

Some people think it is wasteful and harmful to the environment when Americans cut down and use 30 million live trees to celebrate Christmas.  There concern for tree loss is understandable, but it is important to understand that there are over 350 million Christmas trees growing on farms across the United States as sustainable crops like corn, pumpkins, or tomatoes.  In 2012 alone, over 46 million Christmas tree seedlings were planted on farms where they will be grown, sheared, and protected from insects and diseases for 6-10 years before they are ready for sale.   While those trees are growing they consume large amounts of carbon dioxide (greenhouse gases that are warming our planet), produce oxygen, prevent soil erosion, capture and reduce storm water runoff that can cause stream flooding, and provide habitat and winter cover for many wildlife species.   Better yet, they keep local working farms alive and profitable.  There are more than 12,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States and in 2009 Pennsylvania tree farmers had over $19.3 million dollars in sales, accounting for 7.8 % of the national market.  Nationally over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time by the Christmas tree industry.
  
Once the holidays are over, 93% of real Christmas tree consumers recycle their tree in community recycling programs, their garden or backyard.  Those trees become mulch, compost, or habitat for wildlife and fish (when placed in ponds).  

Now compare that to artificial trees.  The first artificial tree was made largely of aluminum and was manufactured in the United States, first in Chicago in 1958.   Today, most artificial trees are made from PVC plastic with 85% of them being manufactured in China and shipped thousands of miles across the world to a retail store in the United States.  Those artificial trees do not provide oxygen, soils stabilization, or wildlife habitat, although we might be able to recycle the plastic at some point.  In 2011, Americans purchased 9.5 million artificial trees, helping China’s economy. 

So this holiday, as we purchase many of our electronics, toys, and decorations that were manufactured in China or elsewhere, consider taking the family on an outdoor adventure to buy an American grown fresh cut tree from a local farm.  It real does help our economy and our environment.

For more information about selecting and caring for your cut Christmas tree, visit http://extension.psu.edu/allegheny/news/spotlight/selection-care-of-cut-christmas-trees


Vincent Cotrone
Urban Forester
Penn State University

Caring for a Real Christmas Tree

Last week we talked about selecting a fresh Christmas tree; here are some tips to help you keep it fresh through the holiday season. For best results, follow these tips from the time you purchase your tree until you remove it from your home.

• Use a tree stand that holds 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter and keep the water level above base of tree at all times. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important.
• Tree trunk too wide for the tree stand? Buy a larger stand, do NOT whittle the trunk!
• Storing a tree for a few days? Put trunk in water and store in a cool, shaded and protected area.
• More than 12 hours since harvest? Cut off about ¼” from the base to improve water uptake. Do not angle or v-cut.
• Keep trees away from sources of heat (direct sunlight, heat vents, etc.) and keep the room cool.
• It is NOT worth it to: drill holes in the base, use “I-V” type devices, apply anti-transpirants or add anything to the water in the stand.
• Proper tree care and watering reduces fire hazards more than spraying trees with flame retardants.
• Run your fingers across the needles. If they break easily or fall off in your hand, the tree is dry and should be removed from the house.

For the full article on Christmas tree care by Dr. Rick Bates go to http://ento.psu.edu/extension/christmas-trees/cultural-information/caring-for-your-cut-christmas-tree or call your county extension office. In Lackawanna County call our garden help line at 963-6842 ext. 1377 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu


Terry Schettini, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Choosing a Christmas Tree

Do you need some guidance in choosing a Christmas tree? Trying to decide artificial or real? As another holiday season approaches, here are some considerations to guide you:

In general, artificial trees are easier to manage and are less messy than real ones. They are also hypoallergenic. Artificial trees can be used for many years to come, spreading their cost out. They never need watering either. However, as they become worn, damaged or outdated, they end up in landfills. They will spend centuries of holiday seasons buried, taking up valuable space.

Choosing a real Christmas tree is important for Pennsylvania. There are about 2,000 Christmas tree farms in the state, adding to the local economies. These farms cover 35,000 acres producing 1.2 million cut trees each year. Almost fourteen million dollars in sales are generated by PA Christmas tree farms.

These farms also stabilize the environment. The land itself is productive, preserving habitats lost in development. Plus soil erosion is reduced and trees are great air purifiers and give off oxygen. Tree farms help abate soil erosion, storm water runoff, and add aesthetically to the areas around the farm.

Ready to shop for a real tree? There are many varieties of trees from which you can choose. Seventy percent of PA Christmas trees are Douglas fir and Fraser fir. The Fraser fir is usually the top choice due its fragrance and needle retention.

• Balsam Fir: soft, dark green foliage, with flattened needles about three-quarters of an inch in length, has a distinctive “balsam” aroma, excellent needle retention.
• Colorado Blue Spruce: stout, three-sided needles about three-quarters of an inch in length. Its foliage can vary in color from dark green to indigo blue. Its sturdy branching and good needle retention make it a desirable Christmas tree, while its excellent form and outstanding color make it the premier ornamental evergreen.
• Douglas Fir: widely used as a Christmas tree in the Northeast. Its lush, blue-green foliage, with needles about one inch in length, and outstanding needle retention make this a holiday favorite.
• Scotch Pine: one of the first farm-grown Christmas trees in the United States. Its sharp, blue-green foliage, with needles about two to three inches in length. It conical shape, excellent color, and needle retention made it the Christmas tree of choice for many years.
• White Pine: native to the Northeast, has soft, lacy, blue-green foliage with needles about three to four inches in length. A very graceful-looking evergreen, it fragrance and excellent needle retention made it a popular Christmas tree.
• Fraser Fir: closely related to Douglas Fir. Its soft, emerald-green needles with silvery undersides are about three-quarters of an inch in length. Its bottlebrush texture, sturdy branching, and outstanding needle retention make it a superb Christmas tree whose popularity has grown rapidly in recent years.

Just as importantly, care is crucial for you to get the most out of your selection. For more information on Christmas tree selection, please contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570 963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu and ask for the publication “Caring for Your Cut Christmas Tree”.

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Lackawanna County