CHRISTMAS TREE PICK IMPORTANT TO HOLIDAY

For many families the selection of the Christmas tree marks the real beginning of Christmas. It would not be Christmas without a tree to decorate with sparkling lights and colorful ornaments. The selection of the tree is one of the most important decisions made during the holiday season.

Most of the trees here are cut from Christmas tree farms locally. Families can go to some of them to select their own tree, assuring freshness. When it is a family affair with the children, the visit also will give a childhood memory to keep for years to come. Trees grown locally are usually Scotch pine, white pine, balsam, fir or cedar.

Trees shipped into our area come from Michigan or Minnesota, arriving a few days after they have been cut. There are some 40 species of Christmas trees being grown on tree farms located in every state except tropical areas of Hawaii and Florida and the desert states of Arizona and Nevada.

The trees that are shipped from colder climates and coming this far south can dry out quickly. Moisture is important in picking out a tree. One way to check is to rub the needles between your fingers and thumb. If the needles bend, it is fresh, but if they break, the tree has been cut for awhile, often too long.

Also, you may hold the tree by its trunk and rap it hard against the ground on its stump end. If a lot of needles shower to the ground, this one also has been cut too long.

The tree should have a strong fragrance and good dark green color.

Make sure that the limbs are strong enough to hold the lights and ornaments.

The stump bottom should be sappy and moist.

After the tree has been chosen and taken home, immediately cut a couple of inches off the stump to open up the tree's water conducting vessels. A fresh tree will drink about a quart of water each day.

Place in a cool place until time to decorate.

Keep the tree away from direct heat to ensure its attractiveness all during the holidays.

The perfect Christmas tree is a living tree. When the holiday season is over, plant it for the enjoyment of its beauty year after year, and possibly use it for decoration outside.

A living tree is also a great way to take the edge off the children's after-Christmas blues when the tree comes down. There is special joy if they can share in planting their own tree.

There is a bit of special care to take while you have a living tree inside. The ball should be placed in a saucer of shallow container, just deep enough so moisture and loose soil or burlap will not get on floors or carpeting.

The tree should be placed in a cool part of the room, away from heat registers or fireplaces. The ball should be kept moist, but not soaked. Good circulation and abundant light will also help keep the tree healthy and happy until planting.

When the holidays are over, remove the lights, ornaments and other decorations. Pick the perfect outdoor spot for the tree to grow healthy and strong.

Do not plant a tree too close to the house or other structure, or under overhead wires because your evergreen will spread out and grow tall over the years and wants some elbow room.

Dig a hole twice the size of the ball and slightly deeper. The soil can be prepared by mixing in some organic material, such as peat moss or compost. Backfill the bottom of the hole so the tree will sit with the ball top slightly exposed. Never plant it deeper than the top of the ball.

Place the tree with the burlap intact around the ball into the center of the hole. Be sure it is standing straight up. Backfill the hole firmly, packing soil around the ball. Mulch the area to protect the roots from cold and keep the moisture in.

Trees, shrubbery and landscaping items are perfect gifts for the new homeowner, particularly if the home is in a new treeless, unlandscaped development.

Hollies are delightful all season. Container grown hollies can be planted anytime the ground is not frozen.

If you choose to buy a plant for outside for a living gift, be sure the chosen plant will be balled or in a container. Protect it from the cold weather by covering the ball or container with pine branches or burlap. The soil should have some moisture, but never wet to the point that it could freeze and cause root damage.

Also, if you are giving a shrub or small tree to be planted, be sure to pass along any planting or care instructions from the nursery or garden center where it was purchased.

Christmas calls for plants--green, growing reminders of good cheer all year long.