Finding the Perfect Christmas Tree: A Guide to Real vs. Artificial
As the festive season nears, many ponder the question of which Christmas tree best suits their home. Each year, the U.S. sees the sale of approximately 25-30 million live Christmas trees, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The majority of these trees are cultivated in states like Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington.
Seth Altemus is a seasoned Christmas tree vendor located at the intersection of Virginia and Kietzke. He highlights several advantages of opting for a live tree.
“A real tree is really nice because it brings that mountain fresh fragrance into the home. A lot of people prefer real trees, because they’re prettier and plastic sometimes can off-gas and get dusty over time. So it’s good for the lungs to breathe in the fresh air from the trees, from the needles,” he explained.
With two decades of experience in tree sales, Altemus sources his trees from an Oregon-based farm. Shoppers often explore his lot, akin to a forest adventure, seeking the ideal tree.
Altemus offers a variety of trees, including silver tips and Douglas firs, but he has a particular favorite.
“The most popular tree, it is also the most expensive, is the noble fir. They’re popular because they tend to not dry out. They tend to hold their water. Also, they’re trimmed in a way where they can be real full with lots of different branches to hang ornaments. So the noble fir is kind of the king of the Christmas trees,” he said.
When selecting a Christmas tree, freshness is key to longevity.
“You want to look at the needles, and if the needles are still green, and you can put your hands on them and pull on the needles a little bit. If the needles stay on the branches, then that’s a good sign the tree is fresh,” advised Altemus.
He emphasizes that while real trees come with their own upkeep, they provide an unmatched experience.
“So keeping it watered is the number one tip. And then also not putting it by a heat source. Definitely make sure it’s not near a heater and not near the fireplace and just keep up on the water,” he suggested.
Meanwhile, at Moana Nursery, Boy Scout Troops 15 and 35 are also in the business of selling Christmas trees. Members Nirav Vayya, Lucas Grayson, and Jacob Julius shared their thoughts on what constitutes a good Christmas tree.
“When you imagine or draw a Christmas tree, it’s that triangular shape. Noble firs basically resemble that. They’re very full, perfect for ornaments, lights, et cetera,” said Vayya.
“I’d probably look for pretty bushy because the green looks better than the trunk. Not super tall because you got to be able to put the ornaments on,” remarked Grayson.
Julius added, “For me personally, I’d probably look for something that’s the greenest, the most alive, and again, like something that’s bushy, but not too bushy. And not too sparse like a silver tip. So probably something like a noble or Douglas fir. Not too tall because you want to put the ornaments on and still be able to fit it on your house.”
Troops 15 and 35 take full responsibility for their lot at Moana, acquiring their trees from an Oregon tree farm. All proceeds from their sales support the troop’s activities.
“So this basically pays off almost everything for us. All the proceeds that these trees make go straight to us in troop 35,” said Vayya.
Julius explained further, “Usually Boy Scout troops, you’ll see them outside selling popcorn. We do this in cooperation with troop 35. And what we do is, we get the Christmas trees and we sell them as our main fundraiser for the year. So we can do fun activities like we’re going to do a high venture camp in Canada and go canoeing down the different passages in Canada.”
For nearly 30 years, the Boy Scouts have been selling Christmas trees, consistently depleting their stock. Both sellers expect to remain open until Christmas or until their supplies last. Now is the opportune moment to find the perfect tree.
