Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2002
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/christmas.html

The Family Christmas Tree
December 2001
Jeremy Johnson, Johnson's Nursery Buyer, Kansas Certified Nurseryman

    For generations, families have been travelling together to select a
Christmas tree to be displayed proudly in their home. Things have
changed since those early days when trees were selected out of a forest.

    Those early trees probably looked more like the traditional "Charlie
Brown" Christmas tree than the beauty of today's trees. The trees you
see now are actually grown as a crop, much like farming done by local
Kansans. Over several years, each tree is carefully maintained before it
arrives in your living room. The pruning, fertilizing and waiting are
figured to an exact science in order to deliver the perfect tree.

    At Johnson's, we carry many different varieties of cut Christmas
trees to satisfy any taste. The Fraser Fir has become the most popular
type of tree due to its long needle retention, great color, awesome
fragrance and stable branches. Branches are an important thing to be
concerned with if you have a lot of heavy ornaments. You will need a
tree that can support them without the branches drooping.

    If you like a little wilder look, you may like the unsheared Douglas
Fir. These trees look quite similar to the traditional, open Christmas
tree. While these trees may not look beautiful alone, a decorated
Douglas Fir is very beautiful.

    If you are searching for a perfectly shaped Christmas tree, the
White Pine may be the one for you. When grown as a Christmas tree, and
sheared accordingly, these trees create a solid cone of soft green
foliage. One thing to keep in mind is that the White Pine has equally
soft branches so if you have heavy ornaments this may not be the tree
for you.

    At Johnson's we also offer a flocking service. Flocking is a process
by which we spray your Christmas tree with a cellulose-based product,
causing it to look like fresh snow on the tree. Any type and size of
tree may be flocked, so check with our lot personnel for more
information on this fun addition to your Christmas tradition.

    When you purchase your tree at Johnson's we'll bundle it to make it
easier to get into the house and we'll make a fresh cut on the bottom of
the trunk. As soon as you get home (you should go right home) place the
tree in water. Fresh trees can "drink" up to 1 gallon of water the first
day and up to 1 quart each subsequent day. You also might keep your tree
away from vents, drafts, and even your television to keep your Christmas
tree fresh.

    To aid in after-Christmas clean up, we have tree removal bags that
you simply bunch up at the base of the tree and hide under the tree
skirt. Once the season is over, you simply pull up the bag, eliminating
a lot of mess.