Christmas Tree Questions, Tree Types

Christmas at Silver Creek Tree Farm was established in 2002 as a family business on 47 beautiful acres in Lewis County. With over 30,000 cultured trees to choose from we welcome you to come and join in the opening of this beautiful farm.

TYPES OF TREES: Douglas Fir (4 to 8 feet) Grand Fir (4 to 7 feet) Fraser (4 to 8 feet) Norway Spruce (4 to 6 feet) Noble (4 to 8 feet) Pre-Cut Nobles up to 10 feet will be available for purchase. Pre-Cuts are priced as marked. Call for tree prices (360) 985-0912

How long will My Tree typically stay fresh?

It depends on how well you take care of it. Approximately 30 days if proper care is taken.

What is the best way to care for our Christmas Tree?

Make a Fresh Cut.

Make a fresh cut on the butt of the tree to open up the pores, which have been clogged by sap. Cut off at least one-half inch. The fresh-cut surface should be cream-white, not yellow or brown. If you do not make a fresh cut, the tree will not be able to drink water.

After the cut is made, put the tree in water as soon as possible. The longer the time between when the tree is given a fresh cut and when it is put into water, the less ability the tree has to absorb water.

Even if a hole is drilled to accommodate a pin-type stand, a fresh cut also should be made on the butt.

Put in Water.

Check stands for leaks.

Rinse water reservoir of the tree stand with a mixture of one capful of bleach and one cup of water before inserting the tree. This reduces the growth of micro-organisms that can block the tree's ability to absorb water. Great care should be taken to avoid spilling or splashing the bleach on carpeting, etc.

Place the tree in a sturdy stand which will hold at least one gallon of water. Fill with plain water.

If the tree is not going into the house soon after purchase, it should be stored in a bucket of warm water on a cool porch or patio away from wind and sun in warm climates and protected from freezing and wind in cold climates.

An average tree may consume between a quart and a gallon of water per day. 

If the water level drops below the cut end of the trunk, a seal will form and no more water will be absorbed by the tree unless another fresh cut is made. So don't forget to add water every day.

Why should I choose a REAL Christmas tree?

There is nothing like a natural Christmas tree to enjoy at Christmas time. The look, the scent and the very feel of a REAL tree are integral parts of the warm, homey atmosphere of our most festive season. Choosing the perfect tree is a cherished tradition in many families. Whether you visit a retail lot or join the tens of thousands who treasure their annual visit to a choose-and-cut farm, you will enjoy knowing that your natural Christmas tree is great for the environment and provides employment for thousands of Americans!

Am I harming the forest by choosing a real tree?

Definitely not! Christmas trees do not come from the forest! Almost everywhere in North America, Christmas trees are grown as a crop on tree farms. For every tree harvested, there are ten more coming along, otherwise the farmer could not harvest each year.

Is tree farming harmful to our environment?

NO! Christmas trees are, except for cultivated forests, the most environmentally friendly crop around. This is because a tree is harvested only after ten years. To ensure future harvests, ninety percent of the farm must remain in trees all the time .

How are real Christmas trees beneficial to our environment?

Just one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support eighteen people. In the process, CO2 is taken out of the atmosphere, counteracting the production of CO2 resulting from human use of fossil fuels. Trees also act as air pollution filters and can remove up to 13 tons of airborne pollutants per acre per year. Christmas tree farms are havens for a wide variety of bird and mammal species including grosbeaks, sparrows, chickadees, foxes, coyotes, mice, voles, and squirrels. The "edge effect" created by a stand of Christmas trees next to a woodlot or an open field is known to increase wildlife species diversity.

Will my Christmas tree cause problems at the landfill site after Christmas?

No. Most municipalities collect discarded natural Christmas trees and chip them for use as mulching materials. Real Christmas trees are completely biodegradable and will, on their own, break down and return their stored nutrients to the soil from which they came.

There are also other ways in which REAL Christmas trees go right on giving long after the Christmas season is over. They can be used as bird feeders, wood products can be made from their stems or they can be used as wildlife cover in fish ponds and woodlots alike.

Where does the tradition of evergreens at Christmas originate?

Legends tell of the decorated tree used in winter celebrations long before the advent of Christianity. Plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people during winter. Just as people today decorate their homes at Christmas with pine, spruce and fir trees, ancient people hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows.

In many countries people believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. Egyptians brought green palm branches into their homes in late December as a symbol of growing things. Romans trimmed evergreen trees with trinkets and topped them with an image of their sun god to celebrate Saturnalia. Druid sorcerers hung golden apples and lit candles on oak trees to celebrate the winter solstice.

In the middle ages, the feast of Adam and Eve was held on December 24. Its symbol was the Paradise Tree, a fir tree hung with red apples.

It is generally agreed, however, that the use of an evergreen tree as part of the Christian Christmas celebration started 400 years ago in Germany and spread to most of northern Europe by the l9th century.