IF YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE YET…A HORTICULTURE SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION HAS SOME TIPS TO HELP WITH YOUR SELECTION PROCESS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO FIND A FRESH TREE. THE ONES SOLD ON RETAIL LOTS MAY HAVE BEEN CUT WEEKS AGO SO IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO ASK WHEN THEY WERE DELIVERED. THE EXTENSION’S RON WOLFORD SAYS YOUR BEST BET IS GETTING ONE CUT FRESH AT A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM. WHICHEVER ROUTE YOU GO, HE SAYS YOU SHOULD TEST THE TREE FOR FRESHNESS.
IF THE TREE IS ALREADY CUT…YOU CAN ALSO TAP THE STUMP ON THE GROUND TO SEE IF A BUNCH OF NEEDLES FALL OUT. HE ALSO RECOMMENDS MAKING SURE YOUR TREE STAND WILL FIT THE TREE BEFORE BRINGING IT INTO THE HOUSE.
WOLFORD SAYS IF YOU BUY YOUR TREE FROM A RETAIL LOT…YOU SHOULD ASK THE STAFF HOW OFTEN THEY GET DELIVERIES, SINCE SOME OF THOSE TREES MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN SITTING THERE FOR WEEKS.
