O Christmas Tree -- Ahhhh, That Smell! Here's A Tree-By-Tree Rundown To Help You Select Yours

Thousands of homes in the U.S. will soon experience the invigorating fragrance of a real Christmas tree. Approximately 35 million are harvested from Christmas tree plantations across the nation each year. Nearly one-third are produced in Washington and Oregon.

Different regions of the country have different tastes: Pines are the most popular in the Eastern U.S., but other species such as Douglas fir and Fraser fir are gaining in popularity. In the West, Douglas fir remains the king, but noble fir continues to increase in popularity.

To choose the best type of tree for you, consider these characteristics of the various species:

Douglas fir: This popular tree is generally available as a sheared tree. A few outlets still sell "wild" unsheared Douglas fir for those who like the natural look. It is the common species on tree lots and the easiest for Northwest tree farmers to grow.

It has a nice fragrance and has a medium-to-good shelf life. Because of its thick, bushy crown, sheared Douglas fir does not lend itself to large or heavy decorations. It requires seven to eight years to grow.

Noble fir: This has long been considered the Cadillac of Christmas trees in the Northwest. It typically has a more open crown, stout branches, luxurious green needles, a long shelf life and a nice fragrance. It is popular with families that have large ornaments.

It is usually the most expensive tree because it takes eight to 10 years to mature and is more difficult to grow than other species. Noble branches are widely used in the making of Christmas wreaths.

Grand fir: This species is the most fragrant of the native species grown for Christmas. It is generally heavily sheared, although those with more open crowns are available at several choose-and-cut farms.

It has an attractive needle that makes it a popular choice as a flocked tree. It takes eight to nine years to grow and has a medium shelf life.

Fraser fir: This is an up-and-coming variety that is available at a limited number of tree lots and choose-and-cut farms. It is considered the Cadillac of Christmas trees in the East and South. It is my personal favorite because of its somewhat open crown, even though it is sheared, and relatively strong branches that will handle heavier ornaments. The needles are short and silvery on the underside, and the tree has a pleasant fragrance.

It is difficult to grow because of the many insect pests that threaten it. A Fraser fir requires eight to 10 years before being harvested. It has a long shelf life that is comparable to or better than a noble fir.

Norway spruce: This sharp needled tree is generally available only on choose-and-cut farms. It is usually sheared and will hold heavy decorations. Some consumers feel it is "child and pet proof" because of the stiff, prickly needles.

It takes about eight or nine years for this species to mature as a Christmas tree. It has a medium shelf life.

Pines: Scotch and white pines can be found on some choose-and-cut farms and at limited retail outlets as cut trees. Scotch pine has a stiff needle, is heavily sheared and has a long shelf life. It is popular among Easterners who have moved to the Northwest.

White pines are more difficult to find. They have a fine textured needle, are sheared, and have relatively flimsy branches. Therefore they do not hold heavy ornaments as well as Scotch pines.

Both of these trees take over eight years to reach harvest size and, because of insects and diseases, can be difficult to grow.

Other species: A few species such as Balsam fir, Turkish fir and Nordman fir are slowly being introduced by some choose-and-cut growers. It is unknown how successfully they can be grown in the Northwest since their native ranges are in faraway places.

They do have excellent shelf life, generally have stiff branches and will hold heavier ornaments. They can take 10 or more years to grow.

Colorado blue spruce and concolor fir are two native species that are not widely available. Blue spruce has a stiff, sharp needle and a medium shelf life. Concolor fir has a beautiful bluish green needle, but has a reputation for having a relatively short shelf life.

What's fresh?

Whichever species you choose, to tell what's fresh, look, touch, smell and shake a tree. Pass up one that shows excessive needle drop (other than some old needles), discolored foliage, a musty odor, wrinkled bark on small branches, or stiff and brittle needles.

A tree with these characteristics may have dried below a critical point and will not take up water even if the butt is recut and placed in a water stand.

Now, about that old story about how a tree is fresh if its needles bend but don't break . . . It's true for pines - but not for firs.

Needles on fresh true firs (such as noble and grand firs) and Douglas fir break crisply when bent sharply with the fingers.

However, fresh pine needles bend rather than break because of their more fibrous nature. They will break only if the tree is very dry. Other species, such as spruces, have not been tested.

Needles that have dried can still be green and appear to be fresh. If a tree is extremely dry, the needles will lose some of their color and then become stiff and brittle.

Dennis Tompkins is a Sumner-based certified arborist, consulting forester, and editor of the American Christmas Tree Journal, publication of the National Christmas Tree Association.

--------------------- Cutting your own tree ---------------------

Want to cut your own tree? The Puget Sound Christmas Tree Association publishes a map of tree farms. The map is available at libraries, certain convenience stores, a few banks and through Washington State University Cooperative Extension, which will mail out a copy if you provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Here's how to reach an extension office: In King County, 296-3900, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; in Snohomish County, 338-2400, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and in Pierce County, 591-7170 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

----------------------------------------- TIPS ON KEEPING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE FRESH -----------------------------------------

1. If traveling far from the tree lot or farm and transporting your tree on top of your car, use a tarp to protect the tree from drying winds.

2. Make a fresh, straight-across cut of 1/4 inch on the base, then place tree in water.

3. Use a water stand that will hold a minimum of 1 gallon of water. (A stand that will hold a 4-inch diameter tree should hold at least 1 gallon of water.) Trees can use 1 quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter.

Temperature of water doesn't seem to matter. Research has been done on Douglas firs to see if using hot water increases a tree's ability to take up water; no significant effect was found. It's not known whether this is true for other tree species.

4. Check the water level daily. Trees can drink 1 gallon of water each day for the first week of display (they tend to use more water during the first week). If the water level drops below the butt, a seal will form and the tree will no longer take up water.

The warmer the temperature and the lower the relative humidity, the more water a tree will use. Trees with thick, heavy crowns will lose water faster than those with lighter crowns because there is more needle surface for evaporation.

5. It's a popular myth that commercial additives or adding bleach or carbonated soft drinks to water stands will help trees last longer. But recent studies of both commercial preservatives and various home recipes consisting of 7-Up, bleach and sugar showed little or no benefit.

Plain old water helped the trees retain needles, and in fact, some additives caused heavy needle loss or increased daily water consumption.

6. If a tree is not going in the house immediately, it should be placed in water and protected from the sun, wind and freezing conditions.

7. Keep the tree away from heat sources (fireplaces, heaters, vents, etc.).

8. Turn out the lights at night or when leaving the house for several hours.