Help tree thrive all Christmas holiday

The holidays are upon us! The Thanksgiving feast is behind us; next up is the annual ritual of selecting a Christmas tree.

If you do so this weekend, you won't be alone. Historically, this is the busiest week of the year in terms of buying fresh-cut Christmas trees.

Approximately 25 million to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States each year. (Some 330,000 of those will be sold via e-commerce or catalog and shipped.)

There are about 21,000 Christmas-tree growers in the United States (although not many in Utah), employing 100,000 people full or part time. Growers plant three seedlings for each harvested tree, making this a renewable resource.

The average growing time for a tree is seven years, but it varies according to location, species and soils.

The most common question people have when buying a fresh-cut tree is "How do I make it last?"

The day a Christmas tree is harvested, over half of its weight is water. By maintaining the water level, you'll maintain the quality and freshness of your tree.

When shopping for a tree, shop during the day or at well-lit lots. Before choosing a tree, do a freshness test on it. Green needles on fir trees snap crisply, much like a fresh carrot, when bent. Green needles on pines, however, don't break unless they are very dry.

Other indicators of dryness include excessive needle loss, discolored foliage, musty odor, and wrinkled bark. Bounce the tree on the butt end several times on a hard surface. If only a few needles fall off, the tree's OK; if a lot of needles fall off, choose another tree.

One reminder: Before you head off to the lot, measure the space where you'll put the tree. This will prevent the need to cut and reshape the tree when you get it home. Also, make certain the stump is long enough to fit in your tree stand. Removing large branches near the base could ruin the tree's appearance.

Always use a stand with an adequate water-holding capacity. One common guideline is that a stand should provide 1 quart of water per inch of tree-trunk diameter. Never whittle down the sides of the trunk to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and removing them destroys the ability of the tree to take in water.