Just a live Christmas tree

Professor, Christmas is approaching and before it comes we are faced with the choice of a Christmas tree. Which Christmas tree is the most suitable to fulfil this role? Because of its appearance, its smell, its longevity. Which is less prickly? Which one is more dense? Which is greener?

Only a live tree, specially grown for this purpose in a dedicated plantation, will provide the right atmosphere (and fragrance) at Christmas. When it comes to the species of tree, we can usually choose between the common spruce, the silver fir, the Caucasian fir, the prickly spruce and the Scots pine. Undoubtedly, the common spruce is the most popular Christmas tree and can therefore be recommended above all to those who care about tradition. Spruce trees give off a beautiful, resinous fragrance that creates a real festive atmosphere. Spruce needles are relatively short, green, stiff and prickly. They fall off quite quickly, so a spruce tree is best bought just before Christmas. An alternative to spruce can be, for example, the Caucasian fir. Caucasian firs have long, wide, dark green needles which are flexible, soft and do not prickle – so they are ideal for homes with young children. These trees are very hardy – their needles dry out over time, but do not fall off. Caucasian firs are odourless, which is why they are more suitable for allergy sufferers than the strong-smelling spruces. Compared to spruce, however, the Caucasian fir is quite expensive, one reason being that it is mainly imported from Denmark, where conditions are suitable for growing this species.

How do you care for your Christmas tree so that it creates a festive atmosphere at home for a long time?

First and foremost, you should not buy a Christmas tree too early (preferably around a week before Christmas). Live Christmas trees that are previously kept in the cold should first be put in a room with a temperature of approx. 5-10 °C (e.g. in the cellar or garage). After 2-3 days, you can move the tree to its final location, which should be as far away from heat sources (radiators etc.) as possible. To keep the tree as long as possible, the room temperature should not exceed 20 °C. Once you have purchased your tree, if necessary shorten it at the bottom, place it in a special stand filled with water at room temperature. A cut, live Christmas tree can also be placed in a container with moist sand. Be sure to water it regularly. In warm and dry dwellings, the needles of the common spruce and prickly spruce will start to drop the fastest. In contrast, the Caucasian fir is the most resistant to excessive heat and dry air. The durability of a live Christmas tree is also affected by the choice of Christmas tree decorations. Standard Christmas tree lights generally give off a lot of heat, which can further accelerate the fall of the needles. LED lights, which do not heat up, are a good alternative. The number of Christmas tree decorations should be adapted to the size of the tree and the thickness of the branches.

What can we do later with such a Christmas tree so that the tree is not wasted? Can we give it away somewhere? If we plant it on an allotment, for example, will it take root?

Nowadays, in the age of selective municipal waste collection, this should not be a problem. Many towns and municipalities organise Christmas tree collections in the post-Christmas period, which – after being shredded – are then sent to composting plants or incinerators. Unfortunately, when it comes to cut Christmas trees, there is no possibility of planting them somewhere afterwards, they will certainly not be accepted anymore.

If we buy a live Christmas tree, are we contributing to deforestation?

As I mentioned earlier, Christmas trees usually come from ornamental plantations and nurseries, where they are specially bred for this purpose. In contrast, if they have been (officially) harvested in forests, this has taken place as part of planned silvicultural operations. Buying such Christmas trees is an activity that benefits everyone: us, because we have a real ‘Christmas tree from the forest’, and the foresters, because they can provide us with such a tree (and incidentally cover the costs of labour-intensive breeding procedures). The only thing you should not do is to buy trees that have been ‘harvested’ illegally, as this usually happens to the great detriment of the forest.

What is the best time to buy a Christmas tree? So that it lasts through Christmas.

As I mentioned earlier, buying a Christmas tree is unlikely to be rushed. Traditionally, the Christmas tree was dressed on Christmas Eve, when all the household members got together and prepared the Christmas tree together. To ensure that a living Christmas tree is a beautiful decoration for your home and lasts a long time, choose from freshly cut trees with bright green and shiny needles. The branches should be flexible and should retain their shape even when slightly bent. This is a sign that there are still juices circulating in the plant, so it is quite fresh. The Christmas tree should have a nice, regular shape and densely spaced, stiff branches. Don’t buy a tree with broken branches, ruined needles, elongated stems and a top that is too long and unsightly.

Thank you for the interview.

With Prof. Dr. Bogdan Brzeziecki, Department of Silviculture, Institute of Forest Sciences, SGGW, interviewed by Anita Kruk, SGGW Promotion Office.