Maine’s Christmas Tree Association members encourage you to choose a real Maine Christmas tree this season. Buying a Maine-grown real tree means your family will have a fresh, supple tree, and you’ll also support local farms and businesses. There are many benefits to a real tree!
Environmental benefits
Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit fresh oxygen. The farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts.
Renewable
Perhaps you wonder whether it is ecologically sound to get a real Christmas tree ever year. Christmas trees are grown on farms just like any other agricultural crop. To ensure a constant supply, Christmas tree growers plant one to three new seedlings for every tree they harvest. This means Christmas trees are a sustainable crop. On the other hand, artificial trees are a petroleum-based product manufactured primarily in factories. The average family uses an artificial tree for only six to nine years before throwing it away, where it will remain in a landfill.
Recyclable
Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes. (Note: never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.) There may even be a goat farm in your area that will accept Christmas tree post-holiday to feed to their goats!
Make family memories
Many Maine Christmas tree farms encourage folks to choose and cut their own trees (or choose their trees, and get some help from staff with the cutting!). You may find bonfires, photo opportunities, or even hot chocolate to enjoy on weekends.
Tree care tips:
Once you’ve chosen your tree, keep it in a sheltered, unheated area such as a porch or garage to protect it from the wind and sun until you are ready to display and decorate it. Find more tree care tips, real wreaths, garland and choose and cut farms at www.mainechristmastree.com.
- To display the trees indoors, use a stand that fits your tree and has an adequate water capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter.
- Before placing the tree in a stand, make a fresh cut at the bottom of the trunk. Make sure the bottom of the trunk is flat. Don’t remove bark—it helps take up water.
- Place the tree away from heat sources, and out of direct sun if possible.
- Check the water daily. (One idea is to make “watering the tree” a daily task for a family member.)
Other Real Maine holiday decorations
Don’t forget to pick up Maine-made wreaths and locally grown poinsettias as well! A Maine-madewreath adds the beautiful scent of pine to your space. Selecting your holiday decorations from local producers ensures you get a fresh product while supporting businesses in your neighborhood.
Don’t forget to pick up Maine-made wreaths and locally grown poinsettias as well! Selecting your holiday decorations from local producers ensures you get a fresh product while supporting businesses in your neighborhood!
