It’s time to get into the holiday spirit! Christmas trees are showing up at retail locations throughout the area. The steps in selecting a fresh tree are important to ensure the tree stays fresh in your home. By selecting a tree that is fresh, you can avoid some potential fire hazards. You can also help the agricultural business and a farmer by selecting a real tree.

Choosing a real Christmas tree is fun for the whole family, and it is easy to do. There are a few simple steps when selecting and caring for your tree.

First, when selecting a tree, do a freshness test. Gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Few needles should come off in your hand if the tree is fresh. You can also grasp a branch of the tree and shake it; watch to see if needles fall off of the tree.

Second, look at the ground around the tree. You should not see excessive amounts of green needles on the ground, although some interior loss of brown needles is normal and will occur over the lifetime of the tree.

Third, take a close look at the trunk of the tree. Make sure that the trunk is fairly straight or you may not be able to balance the tree in your stand. Have someone hold the tree straight so you can stand away from the tree and check it straightness and also check its shape and look. Make sure the size of the trunk at the bottom of the tree is not too big for your stand.

You may want to choose and cut or purchase your Christmas tree from one of the Christmas tree farms in the local area. These trees are much fresher than trees that have been cut up north and transported to Louisiana. Leyland cypress is the most widely grown variety in the state. This variety is popular with people who suffer from allergies because it doesn’t produce oleoresins. These compounds give off that Christmas tree scent but aggravate allergies. The Leyland cypress also holds it needles longer than most other trees. You will typically find the varieties Leyland cypress, Carolina sapphire and Virginia pine tree. To find a choose-and-cut tree farm in your area, visit www.southernchristmastrees.org.

If you’ve chosen your tree from a tree lot, ask the people at the tree lot to make a fresh cut, about 1/2 to 1 inch above the old cut, straight across the base of the tree. Bring the tree home and place it in a bucket of water. Keep the tree in a sheltered, unheated area such as a porch or garage, and protect it from the wind and sun until you’re ready to place it in your stand and decorate it. When you are ready to put your tree in your house and decorate it, place the tree in a tree stand that holds at least a gallon of water.

Caring for your real tree is easy. The most important thing to remember is real trees need water daily. Never let your tree stand go dry. A seal of dried sap will form over the cut stump if the water level drops below the base of the tree – preventing the tree from absorbing water when the tree stand is refilled. If

a seal does form, make another

fresh cut to allow the tree to absorb water.

It is important to remember that a tree will absorb more than a gallon of water in the first 24 hours and one or more quarts a day thereafter. Water is important because it prevents the needles from drying and prevents the boughs of some species of Christmas trees from drooping.

Also, keep your tree away from heat and draft sources such as fireplaces, lights, vents and TV sets. Inspect and test your light cords and connections to make sure they’re in good working order before hanging them on the tree. To prevent a fire hazard, discard light cords with cracked insulation or broken sockets. Never leave any sockets empty! Always place a new or old bulb in an empty socket to prevent the possibility of the open socket shorting out and starting a fire.

Be sure to unplug lights before you go to bed or leave the house. Responsible adults should be around when using the lights. You should also keep pets and young children away from the tree and cords. Some pets may chew on the wires causing an open wire to short out and cause a fire. Keep gift wrappings and boxes away from direct contact with the lights and tree. Sensible precautions such as these will help preserve the unique beauty and tradition only a real Christmas tree can provide.

After the holiday season, don’t leave your tree on the curb for garbage collection. Many communities recycle the trees and use them for coastal erosion projects or for mulch. Christmas trees also they make great reefs in fish ponds.

For more information visit the LSU Ag Center website at lsuagcenter.com. You may also contact your local LSU Ag Center parish county agent.

If you have any questions, please contact your local LSU Ag Center County Agent. You can contact David Pichon, County Agent-St. John Parish at 985-497-3261 or by email at dpichon@agctr.lsu.edu.