Tips for Selection, Care of Christmas Trees
LSU Ag Center (November 22, 2016)

It’s time to think about choosing this year’s Christmas tree. But before you do, the LSU AgCenter suggests a few things to consider.

First, measure the area where you will place the tree to make sure you don’t buy a tree that’s too large.

LSU AgCenter forestry specialist Niels de Hoop recommends making sure you get the freshest tree you can. As faculty advisor in the School of Renewable Natural Resources, he oversees selling Christmas trees by the Society of American Foresters student chapter at LSU.

“It’s best to get your tree from a ‘choose-and-cut’ tree farm if at all possible to ensure that it is fresh,” de Hoop said. “You just never know when those trees were cut that you buy from retail stores.”

If you have to buy from a store, you can do a few things to determine whether the tree is fresh or not.