Real Christmas Trees
Make a wonderful Christmas memory by choosing a real, live Christmas tree with your
family this year.
Nashville, Ark. – The shape and size of the trees are not the only thing Americans are looking for in a real Christmas tree; longevity is important, too.
The freshest trees last the longest. For this reason, choosing and cutting your own tree can be extremely rewarding. For some families, selecting and cutting their own tree for Christmas is a holiday tradition. There are farms that will cater to “this experience complete with wagon rides, hot chocolate and the whole works,” said Tamara Walkingstick, associate director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center and an extension forester for the Division of Agriculture.
There are places where it is illegal to cut down a tree to use for a Christmas tree. You cannot cut down trees on federal or state land, and you should not cut down trees on private land without the landowner’s consent.
Tree farms in Arkansas grow mostly Virginia pine, Leyland Cypress, Arizona Cypress, Eastern Red Cedar, and a little Scotch pine. Fraser fir which is a more popular species is not grown in Arkansas because the soil or growing conditions do not suit this tree. Pre-cut Fraser firs are still popular at tree lots and farms that sell pre-cut trees.
To lengthen the life of your Christmas tree, keep an eye on the water level and occasionally mist it with water. It will eventually get dry after a few weeks regardless. When it is time to take down the tree, do not burn it in your fireplace. Instead, recycle it in your yard or pond.
For more information, you can contact the Howard County Extension office at 870-845-7517 or find helpful fact sheets on our website at www.uada.edu. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
By Dawson Bailey
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Dawson Bailey
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
421 N. Main Nashville AR 71852
(870) 845-7517
dbailey@uada.edu
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