The Christmas tree is a tradition that spans the ages. This holiday essential amazes and delights young and old. To ensure your natural tree beautifully survives from mid-November until the New Year, favour buying from a recognized nursery or garden centre. There, you'll find expert advice and a quality tree with full, shiny foliage.
The Most Popular Natural Christmas Tree Varieties in Quebec
The choice of variety is crucial for needle retention. Here are the most common in hardiness zones 3, 4, and 5:
- Balsam Fir: The best-selling Christmas tree in Quebec has everything going for it. It holds its needles well, is resistant to moderate heat, and gives off a gentle, woody scent. Its colour is dark green, and its branches are full of tight needles.
- Fraser Fir: Highly valued in Quebec, it stands out. Its colour is blue-green, it keeps its needles longer than the Balsam, and handles indoor heat very well. It is robust, well-shaped, and naturally odourless for those who prefer.
- Wild Tree (Sapin Sauvageon): With its wild look, it brings a rustic and warm note to your interior. Its appearance is natural, its scent is captivating, and it comes in a variety of shapes. It is often locally sourced.
- Cook Fir (Sapin Cook): It is very robust and gives off a forest scent that perfumes the room. Its beautiful, slightly bluish-green colour and short, prickly needles give it a very long resistance indoors.
How to Choose a Fresh and Healthy Natural Tree
Before heading to the nursery, check the room height and the space you have to move freely around the tree. Note that the indicated height is measured from the cut to the last whorl of branches folded down along the leader. The tree is always taller than the announced height.
In-Store: 3 Steps for a Perfect Choice
- Visual Inspection: At first glance, prefer a shiny tree with crisp colours and a nice shape. Depending on the variety, choose a tree well-filled with branches all along the trunk, without major gaps, and no broken branches.
- The Needle Test: Favour a tree whose branches and needles are flexible, but firm. When you touch it, at most only a few needles detach when you pinch a branch between your fingers and pull towards you.
- The Weight Test: Lift the tree slightly by the trunk. A heavy tree is full of sap, indicating it was recently cut and will retain its moisture better.
Long-Term Care: Keeping Your Tree Fresh from Mid-November to Christmas
If you buy your tree before early December, outdoor preparation is essential to guarantee its freshness.
1. Initial Preparation (Crucial!)
- Trunk Cut: Once the tree is home, make a straight cut of 2 to 3 centimetres at the base of the trunk. This fresh cut is vital, as the resin dries quickly and blocks water absorption.
- The Water Bath: Immediately place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket of fresh water (use lukewarm water if the outside temperature is below freezing).
- Temporary Storage: Leave your tree in a cool place, sheltered from wind and sun (balcony, garage, or unheated shed) during the waiting period. It can stay there for a few weeks, as long as the base of the trunk remains in water. The water level must be checked daily.
2. Indoor Setup and Daily Maintenance
- Acclimatization: Leave your tree for a few hours in a more temperate area (like a slightly heated garage) before bringing it into your living room, to avoid too abrupt a temperature change.
- Placement: Place the tree in its stand and add water. Keep it absolutely away from direct heat sources (fireplace, baseboard heater, radiator, sunny window).
- Constant Hydration: The tree stand must always contain water. A fresh tree can drink up to 4 litres of water per day during the first week! A lack of water, even for a few hours, can seal the cut and lead to rapid drying out.
- Ambient Humidity: Regularly spray fresh water on the branches and foliage to increase local humidity and delay drying. Be careful not to wet your electrical decorations.
Warning: Do not add sugar, bleach, or other additives to the water. Fresh, clean water is the best way to preserve your tree.
After the Holidays: A Second Life for Your Tree
Christmas is over, but your tree's adventure doesn't stop there. Give it a second life:
- Recycling at the Ecocentre: Your tree will be transformed into compost or mulch, nourishing the soil and contributing to the growth of new plants.
- Garden Mulch: Cut the branches and use them as insulating mulch around your flowerbeds and shrubs.
- Wildlife Shelter: Place the tree in a corner of your garden. Its branches will provide shelter and food for birds during the winter.
