How green are your holidays? To answer that question from an ecologically friendly standpoint we’ll need to find out how sustainable our traditions are.

Let’s start with the Christmas tree. The most environmentally friendly Christmas tree is the one that has a root ball. Bringing live evergreens into the house will make the whole house smell like the Adirondacks, but it is some work. The root ball needs to be put into a container or wrapped in plastic so it does not ruin the floor or the rug. The live fir, spruce or pine should only spend one week inside. The inside climate of our home, this time of year, is much more like spring. More than a week inside will fool the tree into thinking its springtime and it will begin to push new growth. Prepare a sight outside where the Christmas tree is to be planted. Dig the hole and bring the soil into the garage or to an area where it won’t freeze. The day after Christmas, make it a family tradition to plant the tree in the yard.

The next best environmentally friendly Christmas tree is the cut tree. The key is keeping the cut tree fresh. Once we get the tree home, make a fresh cut and stick the trunk immediately in water so it will begin to draw up moisture. The first few days in the house, the tree will draw a lot of water. Check the water every six hours the first few days, and then fill it up once a day. Fir trees make the best indoor cut trees. Balsam fir is my favorite. They smell the best. Fraziers have some the stiffest branches, if you have heavy ornaments. Another popular tree is the Concolor or White fir. This tree has a fragrant citrus smell as well as having long attractive needles.

It’s okay to use spruce and pines, but once they have been cut, they tend to drop their needles in two to three weeks. Fir trees, as long as they are kept watered, can last until Valentine’s Day inside your home.

The live Christmas tree is something to seriously consider this season. By purchasing a live or cut tree you are keeping the Christmas tree farmer in business, which in turn is keeping open land undeveloped and rural. So how green will your holiday be this year?? Happy Holidays!!