At Meadows Farms, we pride ourselves on offering the best variety of cut Christmas trees in the D.C. Metro area, ensuring every family can find their perfect tree. With our large volume of orders, our growers cut our trees just before loading them for delivery to us, helping to ensure that we always have the freshest trees possible for our customers. In this blog, we’ll guide you on how to choose the best Christmas tree for you and how to keep it looking beautiful throughout the holiday season.
Some Considerations Before Buying Your Cut Christmas Tree
- Tree Height: Decide in advance what height tree you need. Remember, a taller tree can be cut off from the bottom and excess branches used for other decorations.
- Shape and Placement: If you’re placing your tree in a corner, remember that it doesn’t need to be perfectly symmetrical, as the back will be hidden from view. If you’re not placing your tree in a corner, consider its overall shape from all angles. A well-shaped tree with a balanced, uniform appearance will look its best when viewed from any direction.
- Longevity: Consider how long your tree will be up, and the temperature the tree will be exposed to, and select the kind of tree with the needle retention you need.
Explore the variety of Christmas trees offered at Meadows Farms below for more information on needle retention.
How to Set Up a Christmas Tree
Storing Your Tree Before Set-Up
If you’re not ready to trim your tree immediately, store it outside in a sheltered area (a cold garage is ideal) to prevent it from drying out. Avoid placing it in direct wind, which can dry out the tree.
If it is going to be a week or more before you decorate, make a fresh, straight cut across the trunk about an inch up from the original cut to open the tree stem to take up water. Then plunge the trunk end immediately into freshwater.
If you’ve purchased your tree at Meadows Farms and have had us do the trunk cut for you, get your tree in water as quickly as possible to preserve the fresh cut.
Watering Pre Set-Up
Keep water above the fresh cut, or a new one will be necessary. If the water level drops below the cut, a seal will form, which does not permit the tree to take in more water. Water consumption is related to trunk diameter and not to height. An average tree will consume between two pints and one gallon of water per day.
Temperature Control
If possible, bring the tree into a partially heated area (basement) the night before decorating to help it adjust gradually to the warmer temperature.
Place the tree as far away from heat sources as possible. These elements will dry your tree and cause it to drop its needles prematurely.
Tree Stand
Place the tree in a container or a stand that will hold water. Do not shave the sides of the tree trunk to fit the tree into your tree stand. Mix Tree Life tree preservative (sold in our garden centers) with the water as instructed on the package and water the tree daily. Proper use of tree preservatives and water will prolong the needle retention of your tree.
Ongoing Care
Once your tree is acclimated, set up, and decorated, the bulk of ongoing care focuses on preventing it from drying out and shedding needles. To keep your tree fresh and beautiful, follow these tips:
- Avoid Direct Heat Sources: Keep your tree away from direct heat sources such as radiators, fireplaces, and heat vents. These elements can dry out your tree quickly, causing it to lose needles prematurely.
- Maintain Room Humidity: Dry indoor air, especially in heated homes, can dry out your tree quickly. To help preserve its freshness, you can increase the humidity in the room by using a humidifier or placing a bowl of water near the tree.
- Use Tree Preservative: Use a tree preservative like Tree Life, which provides essential nutrients. Follow the directions on the package to mix the preservative with water and continue watering your tree daily.
- Avoid Shaking or Moving the Tree: Once your tree is in place, try to avoid shaking or moving it, as this can dislodge needles and affect its shape. If you need to adjust the tree, be gentle to avoid excessive needle loss.
By following these steps, you can keep your tree fresh, vibrant, and your home (relatively) needle-free throughout the holiday season.
Christmas Tree Varieties Available at Meadows Farms
At Meadows Farms, we offer a variety of Christmas tree options to suit your preferences. Whether you’re looking for a tree with great needle retention, a classic shape, or a festive fragrance, we have something for every home. Browse our selection to find the perfect tree for your holiday season.
Most importantly, have a happy holiday from the team at Meadows Farms!
White pine trees hold needles much longer than most trees. Usually, it is not a good tree to hang a lot of heavy ornaments on. Grown in North Carolina.
Best all-around tree sold at Meadows Farms. It is very aromatic with excellent needle retention. Very easy to hang ornaments on. Grown in North Carolina.
Very thick and full with excellent needle retention. Easy to decorate. Grown in Oregon.
Its symmetrical, spike-like crown, shining dark-green color, and spicy fragrance have made it a favorite Christmas tree for hundreds of years.
All around desirable tree. Beautiful shape, fragrance, and needle retention.
Shiny, deep green with strong branches for ornaments. Softer needles and resistant to shedding. Low fragrance.