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When President Bush lit the National Christmas Tree Wednesday, Dec. 5, he continued a long-standing tradition that began with a gift from American Forests in 1924. That gift, accepted by President and Mrs. Coolidge, was a 40-year-old, 35-foot Norway spruce, and it became the first living symbol of Christmas for the entire nation - the National Community Christmas Tree.
Today, officials predict 30 million to 35 million families will bring home a cut Christmas tree this year. In addition, Christmas trees also provide benefits from the time they are planted until after the holiday season when they can be recycled.
For decades, American Forests has encouraged the commercial growing of Christmas trees and the planting of living trees. The gift of a living National Christmas Tree was American Forests’ way of urging the use of living Christmas trees as a conservation measure. Before the Christmas tree industry, people cut trees from the wild, sometimes illegally, and always with little consideration for the continuance of the forest.
It takes a Christmas tree an average of five to 16 years to grow, and as they grow, Christmas trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases while giving off fresh oxygen. Every acre of Christmas trees planted gives off enough oxygen to meet the needs of 18 people. Today in the United States there are enough Christmas trees planted that 18 million people a day are supplied with oxygen.
Also, the farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide a refuge for wildlife while creating a scenic view. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soil that will not support any other crops. In addition, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, when one Christmas tree is cut down, one or two are planted in its place an average of 56 million trees each year.
Tips for keeping live trees
American Forests recommends enjoying live Christmas trees because of the many environmental benefits of planting trees. For those who have space for a ball-and-burlapped or containerized tree, and can provide the extra care this type of tree requires, it’s well worth the additional cost and effort. First, decide where to plant the tree and prepare the area. Remember, the Christmas tree will be a full-grown tree someday.
To care for a living Christmas tree, keep the root ball of the replantable tree moist at all times. After seven to 10 days of indoor appreciation, move the tree to a protected place outdoors for several days to help it make the adjustment from a warm house.
A local nursery should be able to answer any questions concerning the care of the tree. As soon as possible, plant the tree in the hole previously prepared (if the area is frost-prone). Those who don’t have the space can check with a local tree-planting group to see if it has a program to accommodate the tree.
Basic rules for trees
1. Buy a fresh tree, checking the condition of the needles-fresh needles bend rather than break with gentle pressure
2. Shake the tree gently to check for loss of needles; losing needles may mean the tree is too dry and could be dangerous in a home
3. Check the cut end of the trunk; a fresh tree should be sticky with sap rather than smooth and dry
4. Trim the end of the trunk before placing it in water; this allows a fresh route for water to travel into the trunk
5. Check the water level every other day, adding more if needed; if the water level drops below the trunk, a seal will form, preventing the tree from absorbing water
6. Keep the tree away from heat sources such as a heating duct or television set
7. Recycle the tree.
Local municipal trash collection offices have options, or trees can be mulch for the garden. It’s important to note: Never burn a Christmas tree in the fireplace, because the pitch content in the bark and needles can cause them to burst into flames from the intense heat.
The Tree tradition
Trees haven’t always been a part of the Christmas tradition. Some historians believe the Egyptians and Romans used some form of an evergreen to decorate their homes. It is generally agreed that the first use of a tree as part of the Christian Christmas celebration was started more than 400 years ago by the Germans.
Eventually, the Christmas tree came to America by Hessian mercenaries, paid to fight for the British during the Revolutionary War. In 1804, soldiers stationed at a fort near Chicago hauled trees to their barracks during Christmas, and in 1842, a German named Charles Minnegerode introduced the custom of decorated Christmas trees in Williamsburg, Va. His tree was described as being splendidly decorated with strings of popcorn, nuts and lighted candles. By 1900, one in five American families decorated trees during Christmas and by 1930, the tree had become a nearly universal part of the American Christmas tradition.
Give the gift of trees
To give the gift of trees this year, plant trees with American Forests to restore damaged forest ecosystems around the world. Planting trees give us cleaner air and clearer water. If builds life in communities and provides animals with homes and nourishment.
American Forests plants some trees in the name of the people on a holiday gift list. The company will send the gift recipient a personalized certificate. Choose to plant trees on the hurricane-damaged areas of the Gulf Coast or wildfire-burned areas of California or to protect the Mexican habitat of the monarch butterfly. Visit www.americanforests.org, or call 800-545-8733.
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