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Show Page B8 The Salt Lake Tribune GARDEN FRIDAY, DECEMBER4, 1998 Christmastrees come in every shape, variety, size BY JOAN O'BRIEN THE LT LAKE TRIBUNE Shoppingfora cut Christmastree entails more thanfinding that perfect pyramidal formin the lot. There is color to consider, spacing of branches, texture of needles and aroma. Fortunately, Mother Naturesupplies a Christ mas-tree inventory with plenty of variety “Everybody is different. Everybodyhas their ownidea of what they want,” says Cliff Robinson, of Kalispell, Mont., a grower whose family operates seven Christmastreelots in Northern Utah Those who wanta bushy, Analpinefir,left, and a white pine. shapelytreecan buy a Scotch pine; those wholike soft, pain-free needles canselect a white pine; those who like stiff nee- Be Kind to Your Christmas Tree dles andopen branches fromwhich to hang ornaments shouldchoose a noble fir. Those who want an enduring aromashould get the balsamfir. A cut Christmastree is more than an object to hold ornaments andtinsel. For a while, at least, it is a plant. Youshould keep the tree alive and healthy through the holiday season for two basic reasons: First, needles look better on the branches than on the rug; and second, a dry conifer qualifies as an incendiary device. Achieving(relative) longevity takes somecare, not just in maintenance indoors but, fundamentally, in picking a Some34 million live trees — most of them cut as opposedto potted — willbetheholiday centerpiece of U.S. homesthis year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Among the most populararenoblefir, Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, white pine and balsamfir, an association spokeswoman say Nine- ty-eight percent of those are grown on the nation’s 15,000 Christmastree plantations. ‘The following are some characteristics of those top-sellers Photos by Steve Griffin/The Salt A branch of a noble fir awaits its Christmas ornamentation. making them ideal for hanging ornaments. It also retains needles well and hasa nice scent. @ Scotch pine: Its needles, produced in bunches M@ Noble fir: Its needles are more than aninch long, with a bluish-green color that sometimes appearssilver. The needles are thrust upward, exposing the lower surface of the branches. Its stiff, spaced branches are ideal for ornament hanging. It also features a nice fragrance. ™@ Douglas fir: Its needles are 1 to 14% inches long, soft to the touch and dark green or blue green. Theneedles radiate in all directions from the branches, which are spread out and may droop, The needles feature a sweet scent when they are crushed. ‘raserfir: Its flattened needles are ¥2- to 1- inch long and emanate from a broadcircular base. The needles are dark green on topand silvery white underneath, giving it a dramatic varie- gated color. Fraser firs boast uniform pyramidal shapes and strong branchesthat thrust upward, of two, vary in length from1 inch to 3 inches. Its color, too, can vary, with some trees appearing bright green to bluish green. A plantation tree, Scotchpinesare shearedto achieve a perfect pyramidal shapes. Its stiff branches are suited for hanging ornaments and it should retain its needies for three to four weeks if kept in water. @ Balsamfir: Similar to the Fraser fir, the bal sam firfeatures spreadingneedlesthat are 34- to 144-inches long and somewhat flat and blunt at the tips. Needles emanate from circular base and, like the Fraser fir, can be variegated incolor. Benefits as a Christmastree include its durable fragrance and needle retention. @ White pine: It is new to Robinson's lot, but he alreadyconsiders it a favorite. The long needles — extending 24 to 5 inches — are flexible and soft, making the white pine wonderful to touch healthy tree to begin with. The following tips were gleaned from Christmastree growers and extension agents: @ Don’t wait until you’re ready to decorate to buya tree. but tough to decorate. Needles are bluish-green to silver green and arranged in bundles. The whitepine retains those needles well if kept wa- Get one now andstick it in a bucket of water outdoors for at least a week,giving it a chance to rehydrate. @ Testthe dryness of a tree by droppingit from heightof several inches. If your shoes are showered with needles, moveon. Anothertest is to bend a branch; it should remain pliable. ™@ Wrap the tree in plastic if you transport it on the outside of your vehicle and intendto drivefast. if theselleroffers to cut the bottomoffthe tree, decline. Doit yourself when you get homeand havea bucketof tepid water handy. Take 1 inch off the bottom and plungethe tree immediately into the water, Check the water daily and make sure the trunk does not dry out. A newtree will rapidly absorb 1 galion or more. @ Preservatives in the water do help; homemade concoctions are too muchtrouble so use a commercial mix. Don't position the tree whereit will receive heat, block an entranceorbe in the way. — The Washington Post tered It has little fragrance e are hardly the only choices available to ree shoppers. They maynot be big sellers, but alpine firs are what Robinson likes to put inhis living room becausethey remind himof the trees his family decorated when he wasa kid. Utahns who like to go native with their Christ- mas treesselect pinion pines grownin the Inter- mountain West. ‘They are light green and feature upward-thrusting needles that make ornamenthangi But becausethey arewild, they are irregularly shaped Many people also like anothertree commonto Utah, ‘the blue spruce, But Robinson advises against most varieties of spruce, unless they are living, pottedtrees, because theyget dry Wesell very little spruce. 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