Christmas Tree Dryness: Buying Strategy

[TromboneAl]

DW and I have this discussion each year.

One of us thinks that all Christmas trees are cut at around one time (say November), and sit around waiting to be shipped. If true, the best strategy might be to buy a tree as soon as possible, and keep it outside in a bucket of water until, say, Dec 15.

The other thinks that trees are cut as needed -- that is cut some trees, ship them to the lot, next week, cut some more, etc. If true, the best strategy would be to buy the tree close to Christmas (e.g. Dec 15).

Anyone have any info on how the cutting is done?

 

[FinanceDude]

DW and I have this discussion each year.

One of us thinks that all Christmas trees are cut at around one time (say November), and sit around waiting to be shipped. If true, the best strategy might be to buy a tree as soon as possible, and keep it outside in a bucket of water until, say, Dec 15.

The other thinks that trees are cut as needed -- that is cut some trees, ship them to the lot, next week, cut some more, etc. If true, the best strategy would be to buy the tree close to Christmas (e.g. Dec 15).

Anyone have any info on how the cutting is done?

According to my client, the Northwoods X-mas tree farmer, the majority of them are cut in Mid to Late November, bundled and shipped. There is secondary cutting up until about December 10th, and they will ship as needed.

Once the tree is cut, it slowly loses the ability to absorb water, for various reasons.

He told me his family always cuts their own tree (obviously) and puts it up in Thanksgiving, and takes it down on January 2nd,and keeps it watered. He thinks Frasier Firs are WAY overhyped for their resistance to needle loss. However, he admitted he planted a bunch last year because of demand............

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Mythbusters found that by spraying the tree with hairspray, it held its needles longer and looked fresher for longer than any other method they tried.

But...I dont think I'd spray a flammable substance on a dry tree and then hang electrical stuff on it.

 

[Caroline]

This reminds me of a neighbor who decided, one Christmas, that the best way to get rid of his old tree was to shove it up the chimney, whole, and put a match to it.

Cost him a new interior paint job.

 

[FinanceDude]

This reminds me of a neighbor who decided, one Christmas, that the best way to get rid of his old tree was to shove it up the chimney, whole, and put a match to it.

Sounds like X-mas at my cousin's house in the deep South...........

 

[Khan]

Sounds like X-mas at my cousin's house in the deep South...........

"Hey, y'all; watch this."

 

[FinanceDude]

"Hey, y'all; watch this."

With the Colt 45's empties and a few Jack Daniel's half empty bottles nearby..........

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

"Hey, y'all; watch this."

"Hey Bubba...hold my beer for a minute..."

 

[FinanceDude]

"Hey Bubba...hold my beer for a minute..."

X-mas isn'tX-mas until you've spent one in the Pine Bluff area of Arkansas. Let's see:

We spent X-mas Eve skeet shooting, drinking, playing cards and shooting off guns and LARGE fireworks........

We spent X-mas drinking, telling lies about our athletic prowess, and then more drinking.........no church for them........

The "tree" was an artificial foil one, sprayed with fake white snow..........

 

[W2R]

X-mas isn'tX-mas until you've spent one in the Pine Bluff area of Arkansas. Let's see:

We spent X-mas Eve skeet shooting, drinking, playing cards and shooting off guns and LARGE fireworks........

We spent X-mas drinking, telling lies about our athletic prowess, and then more drinking.........no church for them........

The "tree" was an artificial foil one, sprayed with fake white snow..........

Hmm!! I didn't say a word.

On Christmas Eve we got together with 20 or so members of Frank's extended family for a late dinner at Andrea's (local New Orleans area Italian restaurant).

Then his sisters and their families headed off to midnight mass, and Frank and I sneaked off to Harrah's. I put $20 in the slot machine and won $50! Now that is probably something you wouldn't do on Christmas Eve up north.

 

[FinanceDude]

Then his sisters and their families headed off to midnight mass, and Frank and I sneaked off to Harrah's. I put $20 in the slot machine and won $50! Now that is probably something you wouldn't do on Christmas Eve up north.

Well, we have the Indian casinos up here...........

Let's see: I made an early dinner for X-mas eve, ham and Cornish game hens and corn casserole (Grandma's recipe), etc.

Went to X-mas Eve mass at 4:00 pm.....place was packed!!

Went home, started drinking Baileys Irish Cream while my BIL tried to fix my computer. Got the kids to draw us X-mas pictures to take to work.......

Opened a few presents, and witnessed several small skurmishes over who got to use the Leapster..........

 

[Fireup2020]

Cut yer own...or go faux

Anything other than the above, stop yer complaining about the dang needles everywhere!

(please don't forget to water the one you cut or the one "they" cut in Nov)

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Big sale on the fake ones at costco and sams club right now. The fake one we got last year is so lifelike that you have to go touch it to tell, and even then about the only way you know for sure is that you dont get any sap on your fingers.

We hang one of those pine scented thingies on the back. Fools everybody.

 

[bright eyed]

i seriously considered a faux this year, but then paused cuz of the lead worries...i don't want to put a giant tempting object in the house that says you should "wash after touching" for the kiddos...is the worry not a big deal?

 

[WanderALot]

We bought our tree at Lowe's. My in-laws came in during Thanksgiving so we decided to do Christmas at Thanksgiving and ending up getting a tree November 20th. According to the Lowe's guy, they get all their trees at the same time and slowly put them out as they get sold.