Tips for the perfect Christmas tree

It’s the day after Thanksgiving and once the dishes are cleaned and put away, many take this time to dig out the Christmas decorations.
That’s because traditionally many families dedicate this day to getting and decorating a Christmas tree. This year, tree farmers all over the country are reminding tree shoppers that ’real’ Christmas trees are still the more festive option.
Live Christmas tree sales have been declining for years, with the real deal being swapped out for a plastic replacement. Tree farmer Mark Fowler of Powell Tree Farm, Jackson County’s only Christmas tree farm since 1981, has also witnessed the decrease in live tree sales.
“In the ‘90s we would sell about 800 to 850 trees during the holiday season, and now in the past couple of years we have only sold about 250 to 300 per season,” Fowler said.
Fowler understands that some think live trees require more maintenance, but he still contends that it’s all about the experience. At Powell Tree Farm, tree shoppers can pick out a tree and even cut it down, if they wish.
Powell employees take pictures of families and their tree in order to document the special experience. In years past, there have even been visits from Santa Claus to help spread holiday cheer.
Although Powell is the only tree farm in the county, there are other places to purchase pre-cut Christmas trees. Wal-Mart, Lowes and Winn Dixie are other retail alternatives to find the perfect tree.
For those Christmas enthusiasts who decide to go with a real tree this year, there are some tips for how to keep the tree looking and smelling its holiday best.
When purchasing a pre-cut tree, pay attention to the manner in which trees are stored and displayed. If they are stored under shade and displayed standing in water or misted at night, especially in warm weather areas, then the lot operator is working hard to keep the trees as fresh as possible.
One simple test for freshness is to gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. If the tree is fresh, very few needles should come off in your hand.
Shake or bounce the tree on its stump. You should not see an excessive amount of green needles fall to the ground.
Some loss of interior brown needles is normal and will naturally occur over the lifetime of a tree.
Make a fresh cut in the trunk one-quarter to one-half inch from the bottom. Many farm and lot operators will do this for you. Get the trunk in water within three to six hours.
The tree stand you use should hold at least one quart of water for every inch in diameter of the trunk once the tree is in the stand.
Never add bleach, aspirin, fertilizer or other things to the water to make trees last longer. Research has shown that plain tap water is the most effective method to maintain moisture levels across all species of trees.
Powell Tree Farm located off Old Spanish Trail in Sneads. It will be open every day following the Friday after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.