Post by danf on Nov 25, 2006 10:31:41 GMT -5
Got this in my inbox a few days ago, thought it might be a good reminder:
TIPS FROM THE MORTON ARBORETUM ON CHOOSING
THE RIGHT HOLIDAY TREE
"O Christmas Tree... How Lovely Are Your Branches"
LISLE, IL (November 17, 2006) - Trees bring us beauty and joy any time of year, but they're especially enjoyable this time of year when beautifully decorated for the holidays. The hanging lights, candy canes, shiny ornaments and garland enhance the special, endearing qualities of trees. To help ensure that your holiday tree
retains a beautiful, healthy, fresh look through the New Year, follow The Morton Arboretum tree selection and care guidelines.
"Commercial trees are often cut early in the season and may lose
freshness in transportation and storage," says Doris Taylor, Arboretum Plant Information Specialist, who adds that a tree purchased from a lot will not be as fresh as one you cut yourself.
To check for freshness, look for needles that are firmly attached,
pliable and fragrant without a large number of dead or brown needles. Hold a tree upright and pound the base of the trunk onto the ground. If any green needles fall off, that tree may be dried
out, although a fresh tree may shed a few brown inner needles.
Taylor rates Scots pines as "excellent" for holding their needles,
while Douglas-fir, balsam fir, white fir, red pine and white pine rate as "very good" for retaining needles.
Although all evergreens drop needles, firs are the best at keeping
their "youthful appearance" because their branches are covered with needles from the trunk to the branch tip. When firs lose needles, they show the effects to a much lesser degree than
pines, which tend to have needles mostly clustered at the end of the branches. White spruce and Colorado spruce trees do not retain their needles well.
Check also for a vivid, green color, but don't be surprised if the pine
you choose has been dyed or tinted.
"Pine needles naturally turn a bit yellow in the fall, so the tree
industry often 'helps' these trees look green," Taylor says, adding that some needles turn yellow simply because they're drying out.
The cut end of a fresh tree should be sticky with sap.
The most fragrant trees are the Douglas-fir and the balsam fir.
Once your tree is home, prolong its vitality by making a fresh cut off
the trunk bottom prior to setting the tree into a stand. Check the water level daily, and keep the cut end in water at all times. You may be surprised how quickly a tree in a warm room will dry out.
If possible, keep the tree away from hot or cold drafts, as these
conditions promote needle drop. When using evergreen branches as decorations, use the same safety precautions as you would for trees. Such branches can be a fire hazard, if they become too brittle.
Plants that add nice contrast to evergreens include privet, barberry,
English ivy, rhododendron, dried grasses, herbs, berries, cones, and seedpods.
When holidays end, your tree's usefulness has not. Cut the branches and use them as winter mulch on perennial flower beds.
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre
outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,700 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education
programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the
planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.
Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the
Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST). The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit
www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.
TIPS FROM THE MORTON ARBORETUM ON CHOOSING
THE RIGHT HOLIDAY TREE
"O Christmas Tree... How Lovely Are Your Branches"
LISLE, IL (November 17, 2006) - Trees bring us beauty and joy any time of year, but they're especially enjoyable this time of year when beautifully decorated for the holidays. The hanging lights, candy canes, shiny ornaments and garland enhance the special, endearing qualities of trees. To help ensure that your holiday tree
retains a beautiful, healthy, fresh look through the New Year, follow The Morton Arboretum tree selection and care guidelines.
"Commercial trees are often cut early in the season and may lose
freshness in transportation and storage," says Doris Taylor, Arboretum Plant Information Specialist, who adds that a tree purchased from a lot will not be as fresh as one you cut yourself.
To check for freshness, look for needles that are firmly attached,
pliable and fragrant without a large number of dead or brown needles. Hold a tree upright and pound the base of the trunk onto the ground. If any green needles fall off, that tree may be dried
out, although a fresh tree may shed a few brown inner needles.
Taylor rates Scots pines as "excellent" for holding their needles,
while Douglas-fir, balsam fir, white fir, red pine and white pine rate as "very good" for retaining needles.
Although all evergreens drop needles, firs are the best at keeping
their "youthful appearance" because their branches are covered with needles from the trunk to the branch tip. When firs lose needles, they show the effects to a much lesser degree than
pines, which tend to have needles mostly clustered at the end of the branches. White spruce and Colorado spruce trees do not retain their needles well.
Check also for a vivid, green color, but don't be surprised if the pine
you choose has been dyed or tinted.
"Pine needles naturally turn a bit yellow in the fall, so the tree
industry often 'helps' these trees look green," Taylor says, adding that some needles turn yellow simply because they're drying out.
The cut end of a fresh tree should be sticky with sap.
The most fragrant trees are the Douglas-fir and the balsam fir.
Once your tree is home, prolong its vitality by making a fresh cut off
the trunk bottom prior to setting the tree into a stand. Check the water level daily, and keep the cut end in water at all times. You may be surprised how quickly a tree in a warm room will dry out.
If possible, keep the tree away from hot or cold drafts, as these
conditions promote needle drop. When using evergreen branches as decorations, use the same safety precautions as you would for trees. Such branches can be a fire hazard, if they become too brittle.
Plants that add nice contrast to evergreens include privet, barberry,
English ivy, rhododendron, dried grasses, herbs, berries, cones, and seedpods.
When holidays end, your tree's usefulness has not. Cut the branches and use them as winter mulch on perennial flower beds.
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre
outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,700 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education
programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the
planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.
Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the
Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST). The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit
www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.