SHUTTERSTOCK

A family carries home their freshly cut Christmas tree.

Tips for picking the perfect tree

A freshly cut tree can smell wonderful and, when fully decorated, add sparkle and shine to a room. But not just any tree will do for your holiday decor. When choosing a real tree for the holidays, there are a few things to consider.

“You want an attractive tree,” says tree grower Doug Drysdale in a telephone interview from Egbert, Ont., where he operates one of two tree farms open to the public.

“You want a tree that will hold ornaments well. Most people don’t want a spindly tree,” he says. “You want to get a fresh tree.”

Drysdale, who grows trees for wholesale on about 1,600 acres on a number of farms in southern Ontario, says picking a tree requires some planning.

First of all, he says, people need to decide where they are going to get their tree. For some, visiting a tree farm to cut down the perfect tree is an annual family ritual. For others, a tree lot close to home is more convenient.

Measure it

Before heading out, Drysdale suggests measuring the height of the space chosen for the tree. He says a quick way to do so is to stand in the spot with your hand above your head and see how far it is from the ceiling.

“It’s a primitive way of measuring, but it works,” he says. “A common mistake that people make is they sometimes cut a tree that is too tall for their living room. Sometimes, it’s too fat.”

Remember, he says, you’ll want to put a star or other ornament on top of the tree.

After determining the size, Drysdale says the most important consideration is finding a healthy tree.

“The growers are very conscious of maintaining good quality trees. The trees you will find in retail lots are good quality,” he says.

How to spot a healthy tree

Look for a fresh green colour and needles that are fragrant, Drysdale says. The needles should bend easily. Some trees may be a bit yellowish if they were grown in a less than ideal place.

“The colour is the most important thing,” he says.

Types of trees

According to the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario (CTFO), the holiday trees of choice in the province have been the Scots Pine and White Spruce.

The CTFO says the Scots Pine holds its needles well, while the White Spruce holds ornaments well.

The Scots Pine, which is native to Europe and Asia, is a "thick hardy tree" and its colour is variable, with some trees blue-green and others yellow-green.

The White Spruce needs a lot of water. The White Spruce has "strong, slender twigs," the CTFO says, and its popularity stems from its shape.

"Dense foliage and symmetrical proportions of the spruce make it a very beautiful tree," the group says on its website.

Other trees common to the province include the Balsam Fir, White Pine, and Colorado Blue Spruce.

The Balsam Fir also holds its needles well and is good for lighter ornaments. The CTFO says it is a "good choice if the decorated tree is to be left standing for a longer period of time."

The Fraser Fir, meanwhile, is becoming increasingly popular in Canada.

“Tastes have been moving away from the Scots Pine to the Balsam Fir and the Fraser Fir. White Spruce has always been a favourite for a lot of people but it has a reputation of dropping its needles,” Drysdale says.

“Fraser Fir is not native to Ontario but it certainly likes it here and it’s a happy tree.”

The CTFO says the Fraser’s popularity stems from the tree's “combination of form, needle retention, dark blue-green colour and pleasant scent.”

When to buy

Drysdale says the time to buy depends on family circumstances. His farms that are open to the public are very busy on the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December.

“It depends on what you are doing with your family,” he says. “For people who come to our farm, the tree is only part of their experience. They will do many things together and have a marvellous time.”

What to do with it at home

If taking the tree home on the roof of your vehicle, Drysdale recommends letting the butt of the tree face the front. That way, he says, the wind is less likely to damage it. Buyers should also bring enough cord to properly secure the tree.

Once home, put the tree in a shady spot and stand it in a pail of water, leaving the netting on until it is ready to go into a stand.

He says a sturdy tree stand is a very good thing. “I have often thought of making a museum of old tree stands and a lot of them are not very good.” 

Drysdale also suggests making a fresh cut when you get home. If you don’t have a saw, use a sharp knife to cut about half a centimetre off the tree trunk. 

He recommends using warm water to keep the bowl in the tree stand full. Water warm to the touch is absorbed better by the tree than cold. 

Never let the water line fall below the bottom of the cut stem, he says. If it does, the bottom will seal over with sap and will not take up water as readily.

And don’t put the tree in a sunny window. Drysdale says this could bake the tree. He recommends placing it in a spot away from heating ducts and air vents.

Decorate it

After it’s been placed and watered, it’s time to decorate. Home decorator Martha Francis says there’s no need to put decorations only on the tips of branches. Instead, they can go deeper into the tree.

Interior designer Krista Martin says the less bushy the tree, the better you can see the ornaments hanging.

Whatever kind of tree makes its way into your home, however, Drysdale says the important thing is to enjoy its scent and look.