Tips for Cutting Your Own Christmas Tree

Since the holiday season is here, we’ve got some fun tree-related facts for you. Did you know that there are about 25-30 million Christmas trees sold in the U.S. every year? In fact, there are close to 350 million trees currently growing on farms in the U.S. alone. It’s no wonder that Christmas trees are one of the most beloved traditions of the holiday season.

Nowadays, there are multiple ways that you can include one of those gorgeous pines in your home. If you’ve opted to skip out on a fake tree year and don’t think that picking up a precut tree is the option for you, keep reading below for tips on cutting your own Christmas tree.

How to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

There are two options for cutting your own Christmas tree. The first is going to a Christmas Tree Farm that allows you to do the cutting yourself. Instead of having trees tied up or already in stands, these trees are still rooted to the ground where they grew. Doing some quick research for farms in your area will yield many results.

There is also the option to do it as the Griswalds do in Christmas Vacation. Get to hiking and find the perfect tree out in the wilderness.

Whatever place you choose, there are multiple things you should keep in mind when cutting your own Christmas tree.

  • Study the information for the farm. How do other people rate their experience there? Do they have other fun activities, like a visit from Santa Claus or hot food? Find a place that will be perfect for the whole family and where everyone will have a blast.
  • Dress properly. You’ll want to wear layers so that you’re covered when you’re cold but also gives you the option to take extra clothing off during the cutting and carrying of the tree if you get warm. Make sure to include gloves in your outfit choice to protect your hands.
  • Need help figuring out how to pick the perfect tree? Read this blog as a guide.
  • Most farms will assist you in the process of cutting the tree. But if you’re planning on doing it yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind:
    • Use a lightweight saw to cut a live tree.
    • Cut low to the ground to allow the tree to more easily resprout for next year.
    • Cut quickly.
    • Don’t let the tree fall over during the process, as this will damage the tree, the bark, and could harm someone.
  • Once you have the perfect tree picked out and cut off, give it a good shake. The tree has been outside for some time, and it is sure to have critters living in it. If you can spot them yourself, see if you are able to manually move them so you don’t harm them. If not, a few shakes should do it. In fact, many farms will have a mechanical shaker that gets this job done.
  • If you’re not going to a farm and plan to go exploring in the wilderness to find your tree, there are a few things you need to remember.
    • First of all, many states and cities require that you have a permit before you cut down any trees.
    • Second of all, make sure you watch where you’re walking. If you accidentally wander into private property and take someone’s tree, you could get in trouble.

Premier Tree Solutions has been providing quality, professional tree services to the metro Atlanta and surrounding areas for more than ten years. If you would like our help with any of our services, including tree removal or stump grinding, click here to schedule an appointment with us or give us a call at 404-252-6448.

Only YOU Can Prevent Christmas Tree Fires This Holiday Season

You may have seen similarly tragic headlines on the news before, especially around the holiday season: Christmas tree fire burns down home just before the holidays. In fact, between the years 2013-2017, there was an average of 160 Christmas tree-related home fires started each year.

If you get a Christmas tree every year and would like to keep your house from going up in flames this holiday season, keep reading below to learn how to prevent Christmas tree fires.

Do This to Prevent Christmas Tree Fires

  • Pick the best, healthiest tree you possible can. If you need advice on how to do just that, click here to read our blog with the best tips and tricks.
  • Avoid, at all costs, lit candles for decorations on the tree.
  • Keep the tree away from all heat sources by at least three feet. This includes fireplaces, candles, and heaters.
  • Make sure that the tree has water at all times. A dried-out tree will burn much quicker than a hydrated one.
  • Don’t hold onto your tree longer than necessary. Get rid of this fire hazard as soon as Christmas is over.
  • The lights should not be turned on if you are not there or not in the room. On top of this, make sure to use proper lights that are tested and produced by trusted companies.
  • Have a fake tree? Make sure yours is fire retardant so that it doesn’t help to spread any fires in your home.

Premier Tree Solutions has been providing quality, professional tree services to the metro Atlanta and surrounding areas for more than ten years. If you would like our help with any of our services, including tree removal or stump grinding, click here to schedule an appointment with us or give us a call at 404-252-6448.

All I Want Fir Christmas: How to Pick Out the Best Christmas Tree

It’s that time again! In case you couldn’t tell from the uptick in TV commercials, glistening lights outside, and people press-pressuring you for gift ideas, the holiday season is here. If you celebrate Christmas and don’t go for the plastic variety of this classic decoration, then it’s time for you to pick out your Christmas tree.

To help make the process easier for you this year, we’ve compiled the best tips and tricks for how to pick out the best Christmas tree that will keep you jolly all season long.

How to Pick the Best Tree of Them All

 

Don’t be overwhelmed when you walk onto the Christmas farm. Be ready for the trees you’ll face and have the confidence to know you’ll walk out with the perfect tree for your home.

  • Before you even go to the farm, check online reviews for the place. Are there a lot of reviews of trees dying very quickly? Or do you know someone who had a fantastic positive experience from one farm? Start your picking journey off right by choosing a farm others found their perfect tree at.
  • Also, measure. Don’t just measure the space you’ll put your tree to make sure you know what size you need, but also measure the size of your tree stand so you know you won’t have to do too much trunk trimming. Over trimming will ruin its ability to stay alive. Measure both of these twice, for good measure.
  • Check out the branches. Grab any one of them and use your thumb and forefinger to pull the branch towards yourself gently. If a lot of those needles fall off with that small pressure, move on to a different option.
  • Grab a few needles off the branches. Crush them in your hand and see if you can get a strong odor from them. If so, it’s fresh and might be a great pick. If not, the tree is past its time.
  • One last test you can do at the tree farm is to bounce the tree itself. Pick it up a few inches off of the ground, you may need help for this, and then drop it. Let the tree bounce and see where the pine needles fall from. If the needles fall from closer to the trunk, this is normal. But if the needles fall from the end of the branches, then the tree is not a good pick.

You’ve Picked The Tree…Now What?

Take care of the beautiful pine standing in your home! Follow our guidelines here to keep your tree smelling fresh and looking gorgeous during the entire holiday season.

Premier Tree Solutions has been providing quality, professional tree services to the metro Atlanta and surrounding areas for more than ten years. If you would like our help with any of our services, including tree removal or stump grinding, click here to schedule an appointment with us or give us a call at 404-252-6448.

 

Learn about the Eastern Hemlock, Georgia’s Endangered Tree

In 2002, a secret killer was set loose in Georgia. It traveled all the way from Asia to run rampant on Georgia’s wonderful tree, the Eastern Hemlock. The killer? A tiny insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid. This tiny insect is killing trees quickly without much control, turning the situation into a crisis. Since the bug first landed on our soil, it has wreaked havoc in 19 Georgia counties, covering the entire native hemlock range in Georgia.

To help fight against the endangerment of this tree, we’re discussing the Eastern Hemlock and the bug that is attacking it.

What is the Eastern Hemlock?

The Eastern Hemlock is a tree that lives in a wide area in North America. It starts in the southern tip of Canada and travels all the way to the northern part of Georgia and Alabama. These trees are a beautiful variation of pine, can live to be 500 years old, and prefer higher elevations with lots of moisture.

Currently, it is endangered thanks to the hemlock woolly adelgid.

This tree affects so many parts of our natural lives, including migratory birds, fish, and mammals. They create habits for our favorite wild creatures, they impact the population of certain species, and they keep our soil cool with shade.

Since they’ve become endangered, consequences have reached far and wide. Dead hemlock trees create fire hazards, leave species of animals homeless, and impact our waterways. Scientists agree that if this tree is lost, it would be irreplaceable and would cause much damage to our state.

How to Fight Against the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Unfortunately, this insect is almost impossible to get rid of in Georgia’s environment. Thanks to the fact that they don’t have many natural predators here, the best plan of action is the management of their population and preventing them from affecting as many trees as possible.

A three-step plan is required to do just that involving cultural, chemical, and biological actions. Cultural requires best practices for taking care of the tree in order to prevent the insect from spreading, such as mulching during droughts or not placing bird feeders near the trees. Chemical means using treatments that kill the insects but don’t harm other parts of the environment. Finally, the last step of the plan, biological, includes working with living organisms that can help fight against the insects. This means helping to find natural predators and then raising their population numbers.

If you live in the north Georgia area, consider volunteering with a non-profit organization based in Dahlonega that dedicates it’s time to saving the Eastern Hemlock. You can read about Save Georgia’s Hemlocks here.

If you have any questions about how to preserve the health of your local landscape, contact the experts at Premier Tree Solutions by clicking here or call us at 404-252-6448.