Local Expert’s Top 5 Tips For Picking The Perfect Xmas Tree

We talked with Bryant Rawls of Bilmar Nurseries in Pleasant Valley who's family has been growing Christmas trees in Dutchess County for over 50 years. He's got some expert tips that will make sure your tree not only looks great, but lasts through the New Year.

1 - Select a Fraser Fir
Bryant says the Fraser Fir is, hands down, the best variety of Christmas Tree for several reasons:

• It's dark green in color
• Lasts as much longer than needed (12-20 weeks)
• When a Fraser does dry out, it usually still holds on to its needles
• It has stiff branches to support heavy ornaments
• It has a pleasant "Christmas tree" aroma
• A Fraser Fir has soft needles that won't poke you while decorating

Other popular tree varieties can sometimes also be desirable, but most of them have some drawbacks:

• Balsam Firs have the best aroma of all trees, but usually die more quickly than Fraser Firs.
• Blue Spruces have very stiff branches and excellent color, but their needles are particularly pointy and prickly.
• Douglas Firs used to be very popular, but many of them are now diseased so it's important to check them thoroughly before cutting them down or bringing them home from the lot.

2 - Give the tree a fresh cut

If you're cutting down your own tree and will get it into a stand with water within an hour or so, it's not necessary to cut it again. But a tree that has been cut down for several hours or bought off of a lot needs to have it's trunk cut before putting it in a stand so it will drink water.

3 - "Bang" your tree

Bryant suggests banging the butt of the tree on a hard surface several times before bringing it inside to knock off any old needles

4 - Prepare your home's humidity level

Keeping the tree watered is only part of the job. Most of the tree's surface area is it's needles and branches. Putting a tree into a dry house will cause a tree to dry out faster, regardless of how well it's watered. Keeping your house at a comfortable humidity level will make your tree last much longer. Also, keep that tree away from direct sunlight. The sun can also evaporate moisture right out of the needles.

5 - The most important tip? ALWAYS keep the tree watered

Bryant warns that once the tree runs out of water it's a goner. If the trunk is allowed to dry out it will usually not start drinking again. Taking all of the decorations and lights off and re-cutting the stump may bring the tree back, but no one wants to go through the trouble of doing that. Bryant suggests making sure your tree holder has a large capacity for water to allow for some wiggle room during those times the holiday rush causes you to forget to check the water level.

Bryant Rawls is the owner and operator of Bilmar Nurseries in Pleasant Valley and Fabulous Firs on Van Wagner Rd in Pougkeepsie.