By: Robyn Stewart, ANR Agent
A live Christmas tree in the home has been a staple in the United States since the 1800’s. The idea of a Christmas tree originated in Germany in the 1500’s and they remained undecorated or hung with apples throughout the 1600’s. In the 1700’s, evergreen tips were hung upside down from the ceiling in houses and decorated with edible ornaments, lighted candles, and colorful paper strips. The first commercial selling of Christmas trees in the U.S. began in 1851, but at this time, the trees were taken at random from the forest. Glass ornaments did not exist until the late 1800’s. It was not until 1901 that the first Christmas tree farm was started by W.V. McGalliard in New Jersey. Today, between 25 and 30 million live Christmas trees are sold each year in the United States.
There are a huge variety of Christmas trees available to us in Georgia, most of which are produced on tree farms both in and out of the state. Christmas tree varieties are judged on several characteristics including color, branch stiffness, openness for decorating, smell, and longevity. The color of Christmas trees can vary from light to dark green and may have other characteristics such as sheen, silvery undersides, or blueish tints. Soil nutrition and environmental factors can influence the color of the needles on an evergreen tree. The second characteristic to consider is branch stiffness or how sturdy the tree is. If you have mostly light, glass ornaments, you shouldn’t have any issues with a tree that has more flexible branches—but heavy ornaments require branches to be stiff enough to hold them throughout the holiday season. The next characteristic in tree selection is openness, or how dense the foliage and branches are. A tree that is more open will have more space for ornaments and decorations, while a tree that is denser will be more challenging to decorate. Christmas tree buyers will also want to consider the trees scent. Some trees have an aggressive, long-lasting smell while others are light and almost imperceptible. Finally, consider the longevity of your tree. Some species can be put up before thanksgiving and still retain their needles and look good into mid to late January. Other species tend to drop needles and sap and may last as short of a time as 2 weeks.
Fortunately, there are many tree species being produced in Georgia, and other species being produced in our surrounding states. Tree species produced in Georgia include Murray Cypress, Leyland Cypress, Carolina Sapphire, Blue Ice and Silver Smoke, Naylor Blue, Eastern Red Cedar, Virginia and Eastern White Pines, and Fraser Firs. If you expand into surrounding states, you can find species like Redcedar, Arizona Cypress, Green Giants, White Spruce, and Douglas Firs. Whether you choose to cut your own or purchase a pre-cut tree, it can be interesting to compare the species available to you to find the right fit for your home.
If you have questions on selecting a Christmas tree species, the Georgia Christmas Tree Association can provide valuable information on species and local growers. Additionally, check out the 2019 Lincoln Journal article on Christmas tree care to help your tree look it’s best throughout the holiday season.
