It’s time to pull out the holiday decorations! Many families put up a Christmas tree in their homes to bring in the holiday cheer to celebrate the season. Picking out the perfect tree together as a family is a tradition for many households across the country.
In Wisconsin, there are over 1300 Christmas tree farms with almost 2 million trees harvested annually. Wisconsin tree farms rank 5th in the nation for Christmas tree production and almost guarantees that you will be able to get a tree this season. The most common Christmas trees grown in Wisconsin are Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine, and Spruce. But with so many choices, it can be hard to know which tree to choose. If you have decided to put up a live tree this year, here is some helpful information on each type of tree. Bring this summary with you to help you decide on which tree to purchase.
Fir Trees – Balsam, Fraser, and Canaan
Fir trees are a breed of evergreen pine trees beloved as holiday trees because of their conical shape, green leaves, and wonderful smell. The needles are attached to the twigs by a suction cup-shaped base, which keeps the tree from shedding a lot of needles as it dries out. The Balsam Fir has flat, needle-like dense leaves that are dark green with hints of silvery-white. The branches of the Fraser Fir angle slightly upward, and its needle-like leaves are yellowish-green in color. Both breeds have a strong, spicy smell that is commonly thought of as the scent of the holidays.
The Canaan Fir is somewhat of a blend of the Balsam and Fraser. The fragrance of the Canaan is softer, and its flat, rich green, needle-like leaves do not shed easily. All three fir trees have strong branches for decorating. The Fraser has the sturdiest branches, making it ideal for supporting heavy ornaments.
Pine Trees – Scotch and White
These true pine trees are often chosen due to their fresh smell and softer fragrance than fir trees. The White Pine has needles that grow in bundles and are light, blue-green colors. The flexible branches end in pointed tips and give off little to no aroma. Although it sheds few needles, the branches are not strong enough for heavy ornaments or large decorations.
The Scotch Pine is the most common choice of holiday tree in the U.S. The branches of the Scotch Pine are sturdy, enabling it to support plenty of lights and decorations. It has a medium fragrance, and the color of the needles ranges from blue-green to dark green. This pine variety has long-term needle retention, meaning less clean up when the holidays end. With all these great features, it makes a great choice.
Spruce Trees
Spruce trees are less common to find but still a prevalent choice. The Colorado Blue Spruce has distinctive silver-blue foliage, a strong fragrance, and a natural, symmetrical shape. Its branches curve upwards and are strong enough for decorating. Because it naturally looks like the perfect holiday tree, it does not require much shearing.
The Norway Spruce has rectangular needles with a dark green hue and pointed tips. Although it has poor needle retention compared to other trees, it is appealing due to its shape, color, and medium fragrance. It’s important to take proper care of this tree and water it correctly to help with needle retention.
The needle-like leaves of the White Spruce are bluish-green in color. This tree has excellent needle retention and sturdy branches, which are suitable for hanging lights and ornaments. It has a medium fragrance but, unfortunately, can emit an unpleasant odor when its needles are crushed.
Enjoy a Christmas Tree All Year
We hope you find this summary helpful this holiday season as you pick out your holiday tree. If you love these kinds of trees and wish you could enjoy one year-round, talk to the pros at Createscape about growing one on your property. Our experts can determine the best trees for your landscape, install them, and help maintain them. Our landscape management services are designed to keep your trees and plants healthy, so you can enjoy them throughout every season. Call us at (262) 662-0201 or visit us online at createscapelandscaping.com to learn how we can create a beautiful landscape for your home.
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