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Christmas trees

Christmas trees

Old Nov 24th 2012, 4:55 pm
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Default Christmas trees

Thankgsgiving is gone, so I can start planning in earnest, and my neighbours have their lights up.... Anyway, it's not Christmas for me unless I've got a real Christmas tree.

I'm researching the different types you get here, and one absolute for me is that it smells like a Christmas tree. Might as well have an artificial one if you don't get a lovely tree fragrance. I'm not overly bothered about pine-needle drop - unless it's the kind where just breathing near the tree causes showers of needles to fall on the floor.

So, everywhere I've googled said a Fraser Fir is the one to get as it has a lovely aroma. Yet the Fraser Firs I've seen so far in the shops smell of absolutely nothing whatsoever. (I am sadly a bit weird about this - other people pick trees by holding them out and deciding on height and shape. I'm to be found burying my face in them and have been known to buy the wonky misshapen one because it smelt nice...)

Now I've not got a cold, my sense of smell is working fine, so I'm hoping this is just a factor of them being supermarket trees. Being in Virginia there seem to be a reasonable number of Christmas Tree farms in easy drive so am considering a drive out next weekend to pick my own.

What do you all do for your tree?
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Old Nov 24th 2012, 4:59 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Noble Fir if I remember correctly. Nice aroma, but not too much. Home Depot or the local 4H/High School boosters.

You could always throw up the small fake tree in the back of the house and light a candle
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Old Nov 24th 2012, 5:14 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

When we lived in Michigan we would go to the tree farm every year and chop our tree down..loved that tradition.
A bit harder to do that here in TX so if we're not going away for Xmas we usually buy a real tree from Lowes which, ironically, buy their trees from Michigan!
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Old Nov 24th 2012, 6:05 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees



(Okay, I'm joking. I like real trees too. But I have a suspicion that the real pine wreaths in Costco the other day were not entirely naturally smelling)
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Old Nov 24th 2012, 7:11 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Totally gave up on real trees as they just don't seem to last. If you really like the smell of a fresh tree you could always try these.

http://www.amazon.com/ScentSicles-Fr...as+tree+scents
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Old Nov 24th 2012, 10:50 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Douglas fir for me, good aroma, shape , dark green color with dense foliage.
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Old Nov 24th 2012, 11:19 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Try here...... http://www.ashwoodgardens.com/ It's fairly close.

Carl.
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Old Nov 25th 2012, 4:06 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Thanks Carl, will check it out, although garden centres are a dangerous place for my bank balance.
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Old Nov 25th 2012, 7:04 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Originally Posted by yellowroom
Thanks Carl, will check it out, although garden centres are a dangerous place for my bank balance.
I think any sort of fir (Douglas, Balsam, Fraser, etc) as opposed to any sort of pine or spruce are the way to go for fragrance. The exude sticky sap bubbles on the trunk and branches that make for a strong smell.
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Old Nov 26th 2012, 5:12 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Any fir will do, but they're a pain in the arse to clean up.

Get it shrink wrapped, then at home cut a couple inches off the bottom, leave in holder with water and unwrap and leave it to stand for a day or two so it settles out again before decorating.

Saw plenty of people getting trees this weekend up in Maine, some huge ones on the roof.

We're probably going to get one from a local place, they seem to have half decent ones in the $20-30 range. We used to get a tree from a scary bloke on the side of the road when we lived up in Maine, got a 8 foot one for $20, that be over $100 in our neck of the woods now....but we don't have the high ceilings anymore so doesn't matter as much.
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Old Nov 27th 2012, 3:58 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Originally Posted by Bob
Get it shrink wrapped, then at home cut a couple inches off the bottom, leave in holder with water and unwrap and leave it to stand for a day or two so it settles out again before decorating.
We try to do this! It really can help prevent the tree losing needles if you buy a fresh tree, then cut the slice off the bottom, and immediately plunge the end into cold water & leave in a cool place like a garage for a week or so before bring it inside.

The husband got lazy one year and stuck the tree in the bucket of water in the garage without cutting the slice off the bottom, & that tree was a disaster for dropping its needles. Now I weild the saw myself.
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Old Nov 27th 2012, 5:34 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Originally Posted by WEBlue
We try to do this! It really can help prevent the tree losing needles if you buy a fresh tree, then cut the slice off the bottom, and immediately plunge the end into cold water & leave in a cool place like a garage for a week or so before bring it inside.

The husband got lazy one year and stuck the tree in the bucket of water in the garage without cutting the slice off the bottom, & that tree was a disaster for dropping its needles. Now I weild the saw myself.
Our local place, which is a couple mins away, they slice it for us, which is a bonus

Saw some monster huge trees heading down from Maine this weekend to various states....the big 8 footer that was over hanging the car roof, which was naked for the top 3 feet was pretty funny. Poor tree was bouncing around like crazy and that car had NY plates
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Old Nov 27th 2012, 6:41 pm
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Default Re: Christmas trees

I live a few miles from about five xmas tree farms, so we go out and cut our own. Much more fun than grabbing something from a lot or Home Depot, never know how long they have been sitting around.

Four years ago we got a live 5' tree and planted it. It is now about 10' tall.
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Old Nov 28th 2012, 10:54 am
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Plastic tree stood in a bucket of Pinesol. Add those car fresheners for a more festive appearance.
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Old Nov 28th 2012, 11:47 am
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Default Re: Christmas trees

Originally Posted by Nutek
Plastic tree stood in a bucket of Pinesol. Add those car fresheners for a more festive appearance.
I'm with you on that one!!!
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