The Perfect Christmas Tree

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it's time to buy your Christmas tree. And Georgia Raimondi, author of The Passionate Gardener, has some pointers for selecting the best tree on the lot.

• Lay the tree down, hold the trunk and give it a bang against the ground once or twice. If a lot of dead needles fall off, the tree isn't fresh and you should look for another one.
• Check the stump. It should be wet with sap, not smooth and dry.
• Walk all the way around a tree to check for symmetry and fullness. Watch for bare spots or missing and broken branches. Also, make sure the branches are sturdy enough to hold your ornaments.
• Pick a tree with a straight trunk so it will rise upright in the stand.
• Be sure it has a good stiff branch at the top to hang an angel or star.

Check the water level every day and make sure it never falls bellow the bottom of the trunk. Trees can drink up to 2 gallons of water within the first 24 hours and up to 2 quarts on days after that. Also, be sure to keep the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, wood stoves and space heaters.

Types of Cut Treescolor>
Fraiser Fir: The Fraiser is one of the most popular types of Christmas trees because it has a quintessential Christmas tree shape, firm branches and soft needles. It is ideal for decorating because the long, thin branches offer plenty of hanging space. It also holds onto its needles well and provides a great scent.

Scotch Pine: This tree retains its short, stout needles and is great for decorating. But the Scotch won't scent your home like a fir, and when the needles dry out, they become very sharp.

White Pine: With soft needles and branches, this tree is suitable for children to decorate. Its soft branches, however, don't hold ornaments as well as other trees.

Cannan Fir: This type of fir gives off a great Christmas aroma. The combination of soft needles and semi-stiff branches works well for hanging ornaments.

Balled and Burlaped Treescolor>
Buying a tree with its roots intact allows you to enjoy it outdoors after the holidays.

Trees with root balls need a transition period before going from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors. Place the tree in an unheated garage or porch for a few days before bringing it inside. To keep the tree evenly watered, place ice cubes on top of the root ball and let them melt.
Dig a hole for the tree a few days prior to bringing the tree indoors in case the ground freezes. Save the dug-up dirt in buckets in the garage to keep it from freezing. Fill the hole with leaves and cover it with a piece of plywood.

Keep the tree indoors no more than 10 days; otherwise it will come out of dormancy and start to grow. If this happens, the tree will go into shock once it is moved outside.

When you're ready to move the tree outside after the holidays, leave it on the porch or in the garage for a few days until it becomes acclimated to the cold again.

Trees for Apartment Dwellerscolor>
A rosemary bush shaped like a pine tree is a small alternative for people with limited space at home. Be sure to water it often to keep the soil moist and place the plant in a sunny window. You will continue to enjoy the rosemary throughout the year; the sprigs can be used for cooking.

Potted evergreens are not a great idea, though. They should not be kept indoors for more than five days. And they need to be planted in the ground before they start to grow.

After the Holidayscolor>
Instead of just throwing out the tree at the end of the holiday season, try some of these uses for your Christmas tree.

• Use the branches to cover perennial beds. Cut the branches off at the trunk and place the boughs in crisscrossed layers over the perennials.
• Use a chipper to chop the tree into mulch, then spread it over flower beds and around trees. This can also be used to create a garden path.
• Bring the tree outdoors and use it as a winter bird feeder and shelter. Attach pine cones rolled in birdseed to attract winter winged fauna.