Hi, I just picked up a Christmas tree from Home depot--a Balsam Fir to be exact. I was just wondering how to tell if the tree is fresh? We did notice a decent amount of needles that fell to the floor of the truck on the way home, but I'm not sure if this is normal or not? Can someone tell me what to look for, so that I'll know whether or not to return the tree? Thanks.
Some needles will naturally fall out, at the first real good shake. After it is shaken real heavily to clear out the needles, it should not shed a lot a day later.
Bend a small branch or stem, out near the end of the branch. It should snap back pretty quickly instead of staying "with the bend."
Cut about an inch off the bottom of the stump (for a fresh cut) , and place the tree in water. It is amazing how much water they will suck up. Some folks put sugar in the water, but I never have felt the need for that. Watch the water level daily.
Hope this helps !!
--James--
Keep it long past Christmas, and you'll see first-hand what "not fresh" looks like for next year. Plus, as an added bonus, you will get to see how long it takes.
Ask the guys at Home Depot for tips on keeping it fresh.
Hey thanks guys for your help. I guess it is fresh then--the branches do snap back pretty well and it doesn't seem to be dropping as amny needles as it did when it first got in the truck.
Agreed.
Check that dish many times each day and keep it full of fresh water.
When the concern of "fire hazard" starts to bother me, I take a few needles off the tree, place them in a metal container OUTSIDE, and light them. This gives me an idea of just how flammable my tree is.
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Just make sure that the beautiful Tannenbaum you invite into your living room doesn't make your allergies worse! Although an artificial tree is best (if you rinse off the attic dust!), here's some tips if you decide to go with a real tree:
That continual watering promotes mold growth. Make sure to spray your tree with a garden hose before bringing it inside. This also helps rinse the pollen off the tree. Although pine trees aren't a major source of tree pollen, they can trigger hay fever if you get a big dose of the powder right in your face. Rinsing the tree off, plus using your allergy medicines before you enjoy trimming the tree, may prevent your Christmas-time allergy. Speaking of trimming the tree, your ornaments may have spent the off-season in the attic with dust mites and mold. Carefully clean them off in a well-ventilated area. After Christmas, pack the ornaments carefully in sealed plastic bags to make next year's job a bit easier.
Keep the living room well-ventilated. The aromatic resins that impart the pine scent can act as non-allergic irritants. Our Texas Aggie buddies suggest the Leyland Cypress tree since, as a true hybrid, it cannot produce pollen. Fewer resins on the Leyland Cypress mean fewer odors.
Stay well and Happy Holidays from The Allergy Clinic, your allergy and asthma specialists!
Republished by Celestial Habitats J. Kolenovsky
maybe I should consider converting to judaism!
The Christmas tree you'll soon be buying is at the end of its long journey. Having grown up in Oregon, it is harvested and placed on a flat bed truck for its cross country journey. Once every few stops, the trees are watered down to keep them moist and fresh. =
Just make sure that the beautiful Tannenbaum you invite into your living room doesn't make your allergies worse! Although an artificial tree is best (if you rinse off the attic dust!), here's some tips if you decide to go with a real tree: =
That continual watering promotes mold growth. Make sure to spray your tree with a garden hose before bringing it inside. This also helps rinse the pollen off the tree. Although pine trees aren't a major source of tree pollen, they can trigger hay fever if you get a big dose of the powder right in your face. Rinsing the tree off, plus using your allergy medicines before you enjoy trimming the tree, may prevent your Christmas-time allergy. Speaking of trimming the tree, your ornaments may have spent the off-season in the attic with dust mites and mold. =
Carefully clean them off in a well-ventilated area. After Christmas, pack the ornaments carefully in sealed plastic bags to make next year's job a bit easier. =
Keep the living room well-ventilated. The aromatic resins that impart the pine scent can act as non-allergic irritants. Our Texas Aggie buddies suggest the Leyland Cypress tree since, as a true hybrid, it cannot produce pollen. Fewer resins on the Leyland Cypress mean fewer odors.
Along with cheerful holiday gatherings come colds and flu. How does your doctor keep from getting all those bugs? We wash our hands with hot soapy water about 753 times a day. Careful hand washing can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses. =
Stay well and Happy Holidays from The Allergy Clinic, your allergy and asthma specialists!
Republished by Celestial Habitats J. Kolenovsky
TheKeith wrote:
May the Lorax bitch slap some sense into you.
You are the bad one.
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