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Tree Care

TREE CARE

 

Hot Climate - Care Tips - PDF - 21KB

Drying winds and heat from any source, whether it be the sun, asphalt, concrete, heat build-up in a storage trailer or even reflections from nearby buildings, are enemies of freshly cut Christmas trees.
The key to maintaining maximum freshness in your trees is not only to protect them from heat, sun, wind, but also to add water.
Because rainfall normally is continuous in the Northwest during the harvest period, trees coming from there have little chance to dry prior to shipment.
Ideally, trees awaiting sale to the consumer would be warehoused at 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 90 percent.  Since this rarely is possible, the best substitute is to create as closely as possible this ideal condition.

Here's How You Can Keep Your Trees Fresh, Attractive And Saleable

  • Set up a schedule of several shipments so that trees arrive as they are needed, preferably not before December 1. If you need to order sooner, be sure you have a way to keep them fresh. See our tips below.
  • Maintain a high level of humidity (moisture) in tree storage areas in climates which are dry and/or windy (or even hot) during the retail selling season.
  • Never store trees in the sun.  Moistened wood shavings and sawdust are sometimes used to insulate trees from hot asphalt or concrete.
  • Trees stored in hot asphalt can absorb a petroleum smell and residue.  In addition, the heat absorbed by the asphalt during the day will be re-radiated to the trees at night and cause further drying.
  • Store your trees on pallets covered by shade cloth or burlap or in trailers (parked in the shade) or in a cool warehouse.  Shade cloth, a plastic mesh which blocks out a high percentage of sunlight, may be purchased through a nursery supply store.
  • To prevent heat build-up, create several inches of air space between the trees and the cover sloth when storing palletized trees under Shade cloth
  • Keep stored trees moist by frequent waterings.  Note: if trees are moistened with water containing heavy amounts of chlorine, the needles may bleach.  Where the water supply has been heavily chlorinated, water beneath the trees.
  • Leave your stored trees baled to reduce the amount of surface exposed to drying conditions.  Baled trees stored in the sun quickly brown from heat build-up, particularly the areas directly under the twine.
  • Trucks or trailers holding stored trees should be parked in the shade and the trees should be covered with moistened burlap.
  • Do not leave moistened trees in piles more than one week to avoid mold forming.
  • Always sell the oldest inventory first.  "First in, first out" is the axiom of the wise tree-seller.
  • Trees should be displayed in water.  Make a fresh butt cut so that the trees can take up water.  Trees without water remain fresh one-third to on-half as long as trees with a fresh cut in a water stand.
  • Irrigate overhead the trees at night to increase humidity and lessen drying.
  • Do your customers a favor and make a fresh cut on all trees before they leave the lot.   The customer then has 5-6 hours to get the tree into a water stand without the necessity of making another fresh cut.
  • The inner rings of the tree are the least efficient in taking up water.  Removing the outer rings of wood to fit the butt of a tree into a water stand takes away the most efficient water-carrying wood.

Cold Climate - Care Tips - PDF - 20KB - Return to top

Freezing temperatures, snow, ice and chill, drying winds are enemies of freshly cut Christmas trees.  The key to maintaining maximum freshness in your trees is to protect them from the elements whenever possible.
An important second step is to give your customers a few tips on what to do and what not to do to keep the tree in prime shape.
Because rainfall is normally continuous in the Northwest during the harvest period, trees coming from there are normally fresh and the limbs and needles contain a high level of moisture.
Damage to the tree potentially can occur whenever the natural moisture in the tree needles freeze.
Trees may also be damaged when cold, drying winds remove this natural moisture.
Ideally, trees awaiting sale to the consumer would be in a heat and humidity-controlled warehouse at 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity of 90 percent.
Since this rarely is possible, the best substitute is to create as closely as possible this ideal condition.

Here's How You Can Keep Your Trees Fresh, Attractive And Saleable

  • Set up a schedule of several shipments so that trees arrive as they are needed, preferably not before December 1.
  • Store and transport trees in insulated trailers, or refrigerated units which can be set on the "wet cycle" at 38- 40 degrees Fahrenheit whenever possible.
  • When trees are stored outside they should be covered with tarps, particularly in freezing weather or when cold, drying winds blow.  Tree piles can be un-tarped during sunny, cold weather to allow for some heat absorption which can help keep the pile from freezing during the night.
  • Freeze damaged to tree needles occurs due to the rate of freezing and not to the rate of thawing.  The greatest damage occurs when there is a sudden drop in temperature and water within individual cells does not have enough time to move into the spaces outside the cell.  Most freeze damage should show up within tree days of thawing.
  • Trees to be unloaded into freezing conditions may be better protected if the temperature in a refrigerated truck is  gradually reduced (not faster than 2 degrees Celsius per hour) during transportation time to approach the projected unloading temperature.   This requires very close cooperation with the trucker.
  • Unless freezing  conditions exist, display trees in water after making a fresh butt cut.This is good for the trees and sets an example for the customer.  Trees without water remain fresh one-third to on-half as long as trees with a fresh cut in a water stand.
  • To minimize exposure at night, move trees to a sheltered area and cover them with tarps.
  • Always sell the oldest inventory first.  "First in, first out" is the axiom of the wise tree-seller.
  • If the size of tree makes it possible, encourage tree buyers to take the tree home in the car trunk to lessen exposure to freezing temperatures and the artificially created wind when the car is driven.
  • Recommend that trees tied to car tops be covered with plastic (garbage bags), tarps or blankets to prevent either desiccation or the tree freezing to the car top.
  • Consider carrying and inventory of garbage bags or rolls of plastic to sell or give to customers for this purpose.
  • Do your customers a favor and make a fresh cut on all trees before they leave the lot.   The customer then has 5-6 hours to get the tree into a water stand without the necessity of making another fresh cut.
  • The inner rings of the tree are the least efficient in taking up water.  Removing the outer rings of wood to fit the butt of a tree into a water stand takes away the most efficient water-carrying wood.

Tips for Customers - PDF 16KB - Return to top

  • Make a fresh cut on the butt to eliminate the seal and to allow for the tree to absorb water.  The amount necessary to cut off can vary.  The fresh-cut surface should be creamy-white, not yellow or brown.
  • Place the tree in a stand which will hold at least one gallon of water.   Remind them that an average tree may consume between two pints and a gallon of water per day.  If the water level drops below the butt, a seal will form which does not permit the tree to take in more water.  Water consumption is related to butt diameter and not to height.
  • If the tree is not going into the house soon after purchase, it should be stored on a cool porch or patio away from wind and sun.
  • Use the smallest lights possible to prevent a build-up of heat.
  • Place the tree away from heat sources such as vents, fireplaces, radiators or sunny windows.
  • Do not store Christmas trees in swimming pools to avoid the potential of chlorine-bleaching.
  • Print this page for your customer

PacificNorthwest Christmas Tree Association

 
 

 

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Modified - May 22, 2013