Invite a tree inside

There is something about the pungent, spicy scent of fresh evergreen trees in the house this time of year that really brings in the holiday spirit. But with all the choices, what’s the best tree for you?

Here are some guidelines for making your selection easier:

Tree size

Measure your space and then take the tape measure with you. A reality check now will save work and disappointment later, when you have to trim the tree to get it into the house.

Tree farm or tree lot

Tree lots are everywhere during the holiday season, but the trees on them may have been cut quite a while ago. Ask where the trees came from and how long ago they were cut.

Run your hand over a branch, or thump the butt of the tree on the ground to see how many needles come off. A few dropped needles is normal, but a lot of dead needles means trouble.

If freshness matters, then the “you-cut” tree farms are the best way to go.

“Choosing your own tree and cutting it down yourself, you are getting a fresh tree,” says Jim Dietz of Dietz Christmas Trees in Green Bluff. “You are guaranteed a fresh tree.”

There are dozens of places to go in the region, so check out the link below for some ideas.

Cutting a tree in the forest

This option takes a lot more preparation. If you are going to go to national forest land, you must have a permit and follow the rules set out by the local forest management. If you are cutting on private land, make sure you have permission.

Go prepared for winter. Take a current map of the area, warm clothes and boots, a full tank of fuel, tire chains, a shovel and extra food along with the tree-cutting equipment.

Tell someone where you are going. Cell phone coverage in rural areas can be spotty.

There have been cases in past years of people who went unprepared and paid a steep price for it.

Bringing the tree home

Put your tree in water immediately when you get home. When you are ready to put it up, cut a half-inch to an inch off the trunk to open the trunk to water uptake.

Place the tree in a cool place away from fireplaces and heat vents.

“Treat your tree just like a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers,” says Dietz.

As for putting preservatives in the water: “There have been a lot of studies done on that, and the studies have all concluded that there is nothing better than plain old water,” says Tom Leege, a tree grower in Coeur d’Alene.