A Christmas tree, if chosen correctly, will act as a vibrant centrepiece for the joyous holiday season. If chosen incorrectly, however, the tree won't stand a chance — or stand at all.
Individuals are faced with two popular options when hunting for the perfect Christmas tree: they can cut their own or make a quick purchase from a seasonal retailer.
Jim Gunderson prefers the freshly cut variety, as he owned and operated Gunlor Pines Tree Farm north of St. Albert for 23 years before selling it in May. He said individuals cutting their own tree will be able to enjoy their tree for a longer period of time and benefit from a festive experience.
"There's longevity because they're fresh cut," he said, adding some past customers had their trees up for six weeks. "If you try and get a Christmas tree from any store … they've been cut in October."
He said fresh-cut trees can be chopped down in late November and will last through the holiday season, while pre-cut trees should be purchased mid-December. "They're very good at the time, but they've already started their drying time. They look good, but the reality is they don't last as long," he said.
Gunderson sold the farm to the Gouldson family, who has aptly named the farm Gouldson Tree Farm. They can be reached at 780-801-0979. Although ownership has changed, operations will continue as usual. The farm has eight sleighs available – each named after one of Santa's reindeer – that are used to transport the tree once it is cut.
"(Families would) come back in with the tree and Dad usually planted it on top of the car or in the truck. He would be the one that would suffer while mom and the kids had hot chocolate," he said with a laugh.
Things are a little easier if you opt for a pre-cut Christmas tree, which can be picked up from lots around the city.
Terrance Seyforth has been selling pre-cut Christmas trees for six seasons with Evergreen Christmas Trees, set up off St. Albert Trail on Green Grove Drive. He said pre-cut trees last between three and four weeks, adding the major benefit to buying these compared to cutting down your own is that it is much less work.
"These trees come pruned for you. They're the perfect shape because they've been pruned at the farm," he said. "There's a lot of work that goes into it before we can actually start selling them."
Most pre-cut trees are bundled, making it difficult to evaluate the tree for shape, height and fullness. Seyforth recommends cutting the strings on the tree and allowing it warm up, which will allow branches to fall, before making a commitment. If buyers aren't satisfied with their tree when they get home, he said they can keep their receipt and return it.
Species
The Gouldson Tree Farm offers five varieties of Christmas trees. The most popular varieties sold at the farm are balsam fir and white spruce.
"The balsam fir was the best for Christmas," Gunderson said. "It has very soft needles, it pushes in very nicely and would grow fast."
The white spruce shares these characteristics, making it an easy and painless tree to decorate. A blue spruce, although a full and beautiful tree, is hard and brittle, so extra care must be used when installing and decorating the tree.
Other choices include the scotch pine and eastern white pine.
Evergreen Christmas Trees' St. Albert location has a wide variety of species, coming from all over North America. "I would say, for the best Christmas tree, you're looking at a Fraser fir or a grand fir," Seyforth said. "They have the nicest smell and they're good for needle retention."
The business offers four additional species, including balsam fir, scotch pine, white pine and Douglas fir. Balsam firs are shipped in from Nova Scotia and Quebec, Fraser firs from North Carolina and grand firs from both Idaho and Oregon.
These trees are typically cut in mid-November, pruned and shipped to retailers. Seyforth said the lot sold roughly 500 trees to area families last year and expects to see that number grow this year.
Tips, tricks of the trade
Gunderson stands by the assertion that there are no tricks to keeping a tree alive longer. "It's all just gimmickry. Water is all the tree needs," he said.
Seyforth agreed that regular watering is the best method to prolonging the life of a tree, but added some people choose to add nutrients to the water and some even mix in a small amount of soda.
When buying a pre-cut tree, he said it is vital for buyers to ensure the tree is ready to absorb the water.
"When you're ready to decorate and set it up inside, it has to have a fresh cut on the bottom so it can absorb water, otherwise it will completely dry up," he said, adding it is recommended to cut one to two inches from the trunk of the tree before placing it in the tree stand.
If tree buyers don't intend on putting the tree up immediately, he suggests they leave it outdoors in the shade until it is ready to be installed and decorated.
