[IADCathy]

Before moving to The Villages we always bought our live tree from Home Depot and were very satisfied with freshness. I see that Home Depot in the area is already selling trees and wondering if others prefer this to Hart-T? I wonder if I should wait for another shipment (if there is one) to ensure that the tree doesn't drop all its needles by Christmas day?! What do you think?

Thanks, Cathy

[Golfingnut]

Please buy artificial. Killing a tree for a few weeks is terible waste. Jesus would be happy with an artificial one used year after year. Wildlife will thank you also?

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Please buy artificial. Killing a tree for a few weeks is terible waste. Jesus would be happy with an artificial one used year after year. Wildlife will thank you also?

These trees are just like any other crop. They are planted with the intent of harvesting. New trees are then planted in their place. This process is far more eco friendly than manufacturing of artificial trees.

[OpusX1]

Lol artificial trees are made from oil and wire. Mostly from China. Live cut trees are raised by farmers, raised to harvest just like any other crop. Most of if not all the farmers are American or Canadian.
Now back to the OP. Get your live tree very soon. Most of the good trees will be gone by this weekend. We get ours Thanksgiving weekend. Cut two inches off the stump, add about a cap of bleach to your water so the tree doesn't seal over the cut. It will take a quart of water most every day for a week, after that not so much. Our trees last pretty good until New Years.
Merry Christmas!

[murray607]

Originally Posted by IADCathy

Before moving to The Villages we always bought our live tree from Home Depot and were very satisfied with freshness. I see that Home Depot in the area is already selling trees and wondering if others prefer this to Hart-T? I wonder if I should wait for another shipment (if there is one) to ensure that the tree doesn't drop all its needles by Christmas day?! What do you think?

Thanks, Cathy

When we used to have real trees (we have artificial now) we always poured a can/bottle of either 7-up or Sprite into the reservoir for water for the tree and allow the tree to take all of that before adding water to the reservoir..

This ensured that the needles would stay on the tree longer.

[IADCathy]

Originally Posted by OpusX1

Lol artificial trees are made from oil and wire. Mostly from China. Live cut trees are raised by farmers, raised to harvest just like any other crop. Most of if not all the farmers are American or Canadian.
Now back to the OP. Get your live tree very soon. Most of the good trees will be gone by this weekend. We get ours Thanksgiving weekend. Cut two inches off the stump, add about a cap of bleach to your water so the tree doesn't seal over the cut. It will take a quart of water most every day for a week, after that not so much. Our trees last pretty good until New Years.
Merry Christmas!

Thanks!!! I wanted to go tonight as a result of this post, but my husband is exhausted from sealing the garage floor and doesn't want to budge from the house tonight. So we will be buying our tree tomorrow morning following your directions. (We never did the bleach thing...)

BTW, I think most of us know that Christmas trees sold by big stores come from growers and it is a harvest. Guess it does bear mentioning, so it seems.

Merry Christmas to you too and all who have so kindly offered their help! This is the coolest website.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by IADCathy

Thanks!!! I wanted to go tonight as a result of this post, but my husband is exhausted from sealing the garage floor and doesn't want to budge from the house tonight. So we will be buying our tree tomorrow morning following your directions. (We never did the bleach thing...)

BTW, I think most of us know that Christmas trees sold by big stores come from growers and it is a harvest. Guess it does bear mentioning, so it seems.

Merry Christmas to you too and all who have so kindly offered their help! This is the coolest website.

Trash is not a consumable product and does not qualify as a harvested product.

Harvest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Toilet paper has a better use than Xmas trees.

[Golfingnut]

Now, on the other side of the debate, even though Xmas trees are a terrible waste of resources, if you prefer one to artificial, then you should have one. I just point out the obvious that they are not the wise way to go if you are concerned about the earth.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by murray607

we always poured a can/bottle of either 7-up or Sprite into the reservoir for water for the tree and allow the tree to take all of that before adding water to the reservoir..
This ensured that the needles would stay on the tree longer.

Is that diet or regular 7-up or Sprite? Could be the tree needs the sugar of regular soda?
There are a lot of old wife tales about how to preserve a tree. I like the one using an aspirin in the water. The main thing is keep it watered to slow it from drying out. Usually the trees in a lot are a one shot deal and if you wait to buy one hoping to get a fresh one you'll only get a tree that's been setting in the sun drying out when it could be in your home getting watered.

[IADCathy]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Trash is not a consumable product and does not qualify as a harvested product.

Harvest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Toilet paper has a better use than Xmas trees.

Oh my goodness.... recycled Christmas trees in Fairfax County, Va, are returned for FREE to all residents of the county for use as mulch after they have been put through the chippers. Have you read what is being done each year with recycled Christmas trees in California??? I do believe there is a Christmas tree pick-up in The Villages and presumably they are not "trashed"? Have you read about the advantages to our atmosphere due to these forests? Please Google "Christmas tree Recycling". I think the farmers who grow Christmas trees as a crop, which is harvested, would disagree with you about your definition of what they grow.

[OpusX1]

Originally Posted by IADCathy

Oh my goodness.... recycled Christmas trees in Fairfax County, Va, are returned for FREE to all residents of the county for use as mulch after they have been put through the chippers. Have you read what is being done each year with recycled Christmas trees in California??? I do believe there is a Christmas tree pick-up in The Villages and presumably they are not "trashed"? Have you read about the advantages to our atmosphere due to these forests? Please Google "Christmas tree Recycling". I think the farmers who grow Christmas trees as a crop, which is harvested, would disagree with you about your definition of what they grow.

We tried the seven up, and karo syrup, and some other sweet things but did not notice any additional longevity to our trees so we just use water along with with the bleach on the first watering.

Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. We will since all of our kids and all five grand kids will be here

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by IADCathy

Oh my goodness.... recycled Christmas trees in Fairfax County, Va, are returned for FREE to all residents of the county for use as mulch after they have been put through the chippers. Have you read what is being done each year with recycled Christmas trees in California??? I do believe there is a Christmas tree pick-up in The Villages and presumably they are not "trashed"? Have you read about the advantages to our atmosphere due to these forests? Please Google "Christmas tree Recycling". I think the farmers who grow Christmas trees as a crop, which is harvested, would disagree with you about your definition of what they grow.

OK. But at least consider the carbon foot print of millions of cars driving to the box store every year to buy another three, the chain saw that cut it down, the truck that brought it to the store, the truck that removes it from your home, the gas burning chipper just for a few. Now compare that to going into your storage room to get out your artificial tree for many many years.

[graciegirl]

I think that Euell Gibbons used to say that even old Christmas trees are edible. But he might have said that about elevator cable too.

[asianthree]

trees are usually cut in october bundled and then shipped, so fresh is only comes into view if you go to a tree farm and cut it yourself, but have found a fresh cut tree does not last as long as the ones cut in october

[The Buckeyes]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

OK. But at least consider the carbon foot print of millions of cars driving to the box store every year to buy another three, the chain saw that cut it down, the truck that brought it to the store, the truck that removes it from your home, the gas burning chipper just for a few. Now compare that to going into your storage room to get out your artificial tree for many many years.

Or the volcanos erupting and the forest fires throughout the world or the people who drove to the forests to start the chainsaws that cut down the lumber used to build your house.