Snow, gingerbread houses and carols all are heartwarming parts of the most wonderful time of the year, but for many families, the Christmas tree is the holiday sign
Concrete Machinethat stands above all others.
“It’s a symbol of Christmas that’s neat because we can all relate to it,” said Leigh Ann Smith, co-owner of Holiday Acres in Manvel.
For many families, it doesn’t feel like Christmas until the Christmas tree is standing in the home, Smith said.
“We remember our childhood and a lot of good things,” she said. “We don’t remember bad things when we see a Christmas tree.”
But a Christmas tree also can be one of the most expensive elements of the season. For those looking to spruce up their home while keeping some green in their pocket, there are several options.
BUY SMART
Holiday Acres allows customers to pick out and cut down their own Christmas tree, with the size of the tree and its price proportional.
“There’s quite a price difference as you go up,” Smith said. “You can go with a smaller tree” to save some money, she said.
Trees always look smaller in the field and people should remember that when buying a tree, she said. Different varieties also can make a large price difference, Smith said. Pine trees are less expensive than fir trees, she said.
Some places sell
live Christmas trees that can be planted in the yard once the holiday is over, Smith said. This option is smart because the money spent on the tree goes further, she said.
FIND A DISCOUNT
Whether because of the economy or Hurricane Ike, many Christmas tree vendors are selling their trees at a discount.
After Hurricane Ike, many trees did not #completely straighten, and these trees can be bought for less, Smith said. Many people have been interested in the trees that might have a few imperfections, but come at a cheaper cost, she said.
Phil Cerny, owner of Pennsylvania Christmas Trees set up next to Brazos Mall in Lake Jackson,
Concrete Machinesaid he has cut his prices this year to help people who are struggling economically, he said.
GET A QUALITY TREE
“You want the best grade,” said Vange Wells-Anderson, owner of Well’s Florist, Nursery and Landscape Co. in Sweeny. Frasier firs are the most expensive, but they are also the best quality, she said.
These more expensive trees do not shed as many needles, last longer and are less prickly, Wells-Anderson said.
To make sure buyers are getting a quality tree, they should shop locally where they know the owners and talk to them about their needs, she said. Knowing the day a tree is cut is important, Cerny said.
People buying a tree from a farm know the tree is freshly cut because they cut it themselves, Smith said. At Pennsylvania Christmas Trees, only a few weeks have passed since the trees were cut, Cerny said. But at many other stores, Christmas trees have been cut and stored since the summer, he said.
“Every year I have people come and buy their second tree,” Cerny said.
Buyers can run their fingers along a branch and make sure not too many needles are falling off, Smith said. The fewer needles that hit the ground, the fresher the tree.
They can also bend the branches if it is a fresh tree, Cerny said.
KEEP THE TREE HEALTHY
The tree will close off with sap at the bottom after it is cut down, Cerny said, which will stop the tree from soaking up water.
Because of this, the first thing any Christmas tree buyer should do is make a fresh cut when they get their tree home, about an inch from the bottom of the trunk, Smith said. The tree then should be placed in water immediately, Smith said.
“Just water,” Cerny said.
There are many gimmicks promising to make a tree last #longer, but in Cerny’s experience,
Concrete Machinejust putting the tree in regular tap water works best, he said.
