By Robert Woodman, Plant Specialist This year our family debate will soon begin on what type of tree to use, real or artificial. Our previous trees have always been artificial. The convenience of opening up a box, assembling the tree with pre-wired lights in a matter of minutes and just plugging it in is appealing.

But as a gardener, I feel like I sold out. I had always grown up with the tradition of a cut tree back in England. And although we mostly used a Norway spruce - the worst kind for its needles getting impaled in the carpet - its smell brought on the holiday cheer. Sadly, artificial trees cannot replicate that aroma, but there are other reasons why I’m beginning to reconsider my tree choice this year.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, approximately 25 to 30 million trees are sold each year in the U.S. For each one cut, two or three seedlings are planted in its place (estimates place the number of trees growing in the U.S. around 350 million). There are about 350,000 acres of land that are used for tree production. And each tree is fully recyclable.

While we think the ideal tree should be a certain height to fit properly in a room, my daughter was quick to mention that the base is far more important. The wider it is the more presents will fit under it!

To help your decision making, here’s a quick look at some of our most popular fresh-cut trees:

Noble Fir: A native of the Pacific Northwest, this is the iconic Christmas tree and the one featured on many Christmas cards. I view it as a connoisseur’s tree as it’s priced on the upper spectrum of all the trees. But it gets close to selling out every year. It features an open branch structure, which allows for heavier hanging ornaments to be displayed on stronger, interior branches without being hidden. Its fragrance is one of the best, and its needle retention is excellent. People in the know will buy these trees shortly after Thanksgiving and keep them hydrated in a bucket of water, allowing them to drink freely outside before bring them in a couple of weeks before Christmas. Buying them later doesn’t guarantee a fresher tree! Almost all Nobles are West Coast grown, and take up to one week to cross the country.

Fraser Fir: Growing locally from the southern Appalachian Mountains, through North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and Virginia, this tree has a denser form than a Noble, but still carries the same characteristics of fragrance and needle longevity. Because of its local range, many trees are fresh when shipped in, as they haven’t been trucked across the country. Many families have grown up with Fraser Firs and will keep to tradition by choosing one. Its close cousin is a Balsam Fir, which is grown in the northeastern areas of the country. Every year we get asked if we sell them, but due to the close proximity of Fraser Firs we go for the fresher alternative. Because of the snow, most Balsams are cut up to one month before they’re delivered, which can result in shorter needle retention.

Douglas Fir: Not the best for hanging ornaments, but I love the sweet citrusy fragrance of its needles when crushed. Alas, needle retention isn’t as long as the Noble or Fraser Fir, but Douglas Firs are attractively priced for someone looking for a large tree on a tight budget. Don’t rule this tree out until you do the scratch and sniff test, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Scotch and White Pines: These trees have a smaller following of dedicated supporters. With its soft, airy needles, white pines are used mostly in garland and table decorations. Some find the branches too flexible for heavy ornaments. I remember one of my colleagues raving about the beauty of the tree after we flocked it one year with artificial snow. And admittedly - it did create a wintery wonderland feel. Flocking a tree does eliminate the need for constant vigilance regarding watering as the needles are somewhat ‘glued’ to the tree! The Scotch pine is on the other end of the spectrum, where the needles never seem to fall off even when dry - and I’m talking months later. Its branches have better strength and can take a heavier load, but the needles can be sharp.

Colorado Blue Spruce: This is mostly sold as a living tree for those who want to plant it outside after Christmas, but it can also be found as a cut tree. One word of warning: the needles are as sharp as pins, making it a hard tree to decorate let alone carry in or out of the house. Its popularity is waning as a cut tree, but planted in the garden it’s a showstopper. For those who are considering a live tree, remember that they can only be used indoors for a much shorter time. Too long inside the house can cause the tree to soften, making it harder for it to transition back outside abruptly after Christmas. Digging a planting hole in preparation before bringing it into the house is a good idea in case the ground freezes. If you do that, be sure to cover the hole for safety.

While there’s debate between the benefits of using real or artificial trees, the range of selection of either is incredible. As long as you keep real trees well hydrated, ensuring that they never dry out, they will last past Christmas. When buying a tree from us, ask for a new 1-inch fresh cut to be made if you can get it in water within an hour. Otherwise, before setting up the tree in your stand, make a new cut. This will remove any sap that has hardened up over the base, blocking the vessels that carry water up the tree in the bark. In addition, I suggest you use Prolong, a product that causes trees to absorb more water than usual, which helps keep them fresher.

My last comment is to be mindful of the hazards involved in keeping any tree, real or artificial inside the house. While trees don’t spontaneously self combust, other things can cause fire hazards. Use only lights that have a ‘UL’ marking on the box and always check the condition of existing lights before hanging them. If you’re like me and have cats that enjoy chewing on wires, this is very important to do. Please always consult your local fire department for advice or questions.