Noble Fir
These needles turn upward, exposing the lower branches. Known for its beauty, the noble fir has a long keep ability, and its stiff branches make it a good tree for heavy ornaments, as well as providing excellent greenery for wreaths and garland.
Long considered an excellent Christmas tree because of its beauty, stiff branches and long keepability, the species is growing in popularity (between 25% and 30% of the fresh tree market in the Pacific Northwest). It is also widely used in the greenery business to make wreaths, door swags, garland and other Christmas products.
Fraser Fir
The Fraser fir branches turn slightly upward. They have good form and needle-retention and are dark blue-green in color. Frasers have a pleasant scent, and excellent shipping characteristics as well.
The combination of form, needle retention, dark blue-green color, pleasant scent and excellent shipping characteristics has led to Fraser fir being a most popular Christmas tree species. North Carolina produces the majority of Fraser fir Christmas trees. It requires from 7 to 10 years in the field to produce a 6-7 feet tree.
Nordmann Fir
With their thick, symmetrically arranged branches Nordmann Fir are perfect for displaying heavy or large ornaments such as glass and heirloom pieces. The Nordmann Firs dark green needles are short and smooth, and are covered in a waxy cuticle which prevents water loss. This coating on the Nordmann Fir gives it a minimal fragrance, and is recommended when choosing a Christmas tree for individuals with allergies.
Concolor Fir
White fir, also commonly called concolor fir, is native to the western United States and may reach sizes of 130-150 ft. in height and 3 to 4 ft. in diameter
As a Christmas tree, white fir has good foliage color, a pleasing natural shape and aroma, and good needle retention.
Balsam Fir
One of America’s most popular Christmas trees due to its dark green color, heavy density foliage, its soft and short needles, its solid branches, the Balsam fir can accommodate heavy ornaments.
With its distinctive and long lasting aroma, the Balsam fir tree makes it an all time favorite Christmas tree in North America and one of the most popular Christmas trees in the Caribbean Islands and countries of South America.
Christmas Tree Care
Creek Side’s top-selling Christmas trees, are Noble Fir, Fraser Fir, Nordman Fir and Concolor Fir.
To check a tree’s freshness, pull your hand towards you along the branch. Needles should not fall off
Creek Side will provide a fresh cut by sawing an inch off the bottom of the trunk before setting in water. When trees are harvested, pitch oozes out and seals the pores. By sawing off the base, the pores open up and the tree will be able to absorb water.
Watering is critical. A freshly-cut tree can consume a gallon of water in 24 hours!
Fill the tree stand with water and keep it filled.
Never let the water level go below the tree’s base.
Indoors, keep the tree away from heating ducts or other heat sources. In fact, the lower the temperature, the better the tree will do.
After Christmas, prop up your old tree near your bird feeder as a staging area for small birds like chickadees and finches.
Trim the branches from the tree, and saw the trunk into several pieces. Tie the pieces together and store the bundle in the cellar. This will make an aromatic Yule fire in your fireplace next Christmas Eve.
Create a bird feeder and haven. String your tree with orange slices, bread, cranberry, and other bird-friendly goodies, and put it in a sheltered location.
Remove the branches and use them as mulch in the garden.
Take the tree to your local re-cycling center.
Fresh Wreath, Garland and Greenery Care Tips
If you won’t be displaying your wreath immediately, keep it in a cool dark place.
Water your wreath by spritzing with water every few days. You can also lay the item in a couple inches of water to allow it to ‘drink’ from the back where the stems are. You may also treat them with an anti-desiccant spray such as Wilt-Pruf. This seals the pores on the leaves and bark and helps the foliage retain moisture
Your wreath should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
If kept outside, on a door, out of direct sunlight, your wreath will last about a month, or even two in cooler climates.
Should you choose to display your wreath or evergreen item indoors for a holiday party or dinner, we recommend waiting until just before the event to bring the item in, and return it to the outdoors afterward.
If you will be exclusively displaying the wreath indoors, keep it away from direct heat sources, water more frequently, and note that the longevity will be decreased to two weeks.
