Photo courtesy The Fir Farm
By Gretchen Van Benthuysen
Like so many things these days, there are way too many choices when it comes to Christmas trees.
Traditional favorites – these are just a few – include Douglas fir, Norway spruce, Fraser fir, balsam fir, Colorado spruce, Colorado blue spruce, white spruce, white fir, Scotch pine and white pine.
They come as pre-cut trees shipped from a distance, fresh-cut from a local tree farm, or as balled trees with their root system intact for future planting.
Brock Farms, 375 Route 34, Colts Neck, takes the pressure off – it only offers pre-cut Fraser firs.
“It’s the most popular, it retains its needles through the season and has the classic shape,” said Rolland Gesimondo, the nursery manager.
No matter what kind of tree you buy, he said, it can never, ever be without water.
“Once the trunk is cut its pores seal up with sap,” he explained. “If we cut the trunk, make sure the tree is in its stand with water within 45 minutes.
“And check the stand daily because if it goes dry, no matter what kind of tree you have, the needles will fall off fast,” he said. “If you’re not setting up the tree right away, put it into a bucket of water, or do the cut yourself.”
If you’re looking for more of a choice and a fresh-cut tree, a drive to a tree farm shouldn’t be too far. After all, the first Christmas tree farm in America began in 1901 with the planting of 25,000 Norway spruce near Trenton, said Jeff Wolfe, public information officer for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. They were harvested in 1908.
Today, New Jersey is sixth in the nation in the number of Christmas tree farms. According to the Census of Agriculture released last spring, Wolfe said, New Jersey had almost 5,300 acres of Christmas trees, up from just over 4,600 five years ago. The number of cut trees was also up. However, the number of farms in production fell from 690 to 639.
Brothers Bob and Mickey Clark are doing their best to keep the 25-acre Fir Farm thriving at 166 Hillsdale Road, Colts Neck. Ask Bob Clark what kinds of trees they grow and he responds: “You name it, we’ve got it.”
They plan to plant 2,000 more trees next spring.
But the trees the brothers are most fond of are the ones shipped to military families stationed around the country as part of the Trees for Troops. They shipped 151 last year and hope to exceed that in this, their sixth year.
Customers buy a 6- to 8-foot tree for $30, write a greeting on a card that’s attached to the tree, which is then placed in a truck for delivery to participating military bases. The truck will be at the farm Dec. 5 through 9.
“It means a lot to us,” Bob Clark said. “Our dad was in the Navy and we’re big supporters of the military and we have a Christmas tree farm. If we can do our small part to enable a real Christmas tree to get to military families based throughout the country, it’s just the greatest.
“The people who are filling out the tag feel the connection,” he said. “And the people getting it sometimes post it on social media and that makes another connection between people.”
If you miss the truck, you can donate a tree at this link.
If you still can’t decide on a tree for your own home, ask yourself this question, then peruse the guide: Do you favor fir needles, which are soft and flat; or spruce needles, which tend to be short and stiff; or pine needles, which are soft, long and grow in clusters from a single point on a branch?
THE FIRS
• Fraser fir: Sturdy branches support heavy ornaments, excellent scent, holds dark green upturned needles a long time.
• Balsam fir: Cone shape with short, dense branches, dark green needles and a pleasing aroma.
• Douglas fir: Full-bodied, dark green tree with soft, fine needles and pine scent. Classic Christmas tree shape. Handles lots of ornaments and strands of lights.
• White fir: Long-living with small needles and a light green color. Great needle retention, a more citrusy scent and a round, pyramid shape. Also known as concolor fir.
THE SPRUCES
• White spruce: White spruce has strong branches that are perfect for hanging heavy ornaments. The short, blue-green needles are stiff, but not sharp; avoid crushing them, as they have an unpleasant odor. Has trouble holding its needles.
• Colorado blue spruce: Strong branches full of silvery-blue needles and pyramid shape.
THE PINES
• White pine: Bushy, full trees with long, soft, feathery needles for easy decorating. Delicate branches won’t hold heavy ornaments. If kept watered, lasts a long time. Almost no pine scent.
• Scotch pine: Loved for its dark green color and longevity. One of the most common Christmas trees in the United States.
