O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how annoying are thy needles.
I’ll admit, this took some research. I’ve only chosen one real-life Christmas tree when I was younger. Unbeknownst to me or my parents, that would not be a pleasant Christmas for us. We would spend the day trying to corral all the baby spiders that hatched from it. Eek! I know!
Well if you’re on the search for a real Christmas tree, here’s a little bit about each kind of Christmas tree.
Fraser Fir
“The Fraser is the most popular,” says Paul Schroeder, president of the National Christmas Association. While it may be slightly more expensive than other trees, they’re widely popular because they retain their needles the longest. Schroeder says to water them daily for the first three days, then twice a week after that, which is standard for all Christmas trees.
If you do that, it could last up to six weeks, making them perfect for those Christmas fanatics who begin decorating for the holiday before dessert is served on Thanksgiving.
Balsam Fir
Schroeder says he’s “partial to the Balsam because they’re more fragrant and give you that beautiful Christmas tree scent.” They’re fairly good at holding their needles, though their branches are a little softer so they may not hold the heaviest of those overpriced ornaments.
Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash
Douglas Fir
A common-sounding name for a common tree, the Douglas fir is more conical and therefore better for tight spaces. It has a sweet aroma and will hold its needles for about four weeks, much like the Balsam. They’re very popular and moderately priced-all around it’s pretty reliable, just like most of the Dougs in your life.
Spruce
“These were popular 30 years ago,” says Schroeder, adding that they’ve declined in popularity recently because they shed their spiky little needles like crazy. Unless you want to be vacuuming every day, avoid the Spruce.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
White Pine
These are unique trees with long, soft needles. They won’t hold any heavy ornaments, but they’re great for allergy sufferers as they’re much less fragrant than other trees. Unless you feel like you’re allergic to Christmas cheer altogether, in which case, just buy an aluminum pole.
What kind of Christmas do you have? Did you go for a real tree or did you buy a fake one? I personally bought a fake Alpine tree after that horrific experience we had with a real tree when I was a kid.
