Alice in Dairyland shares insights into Wisconsin Christmas tree varieties

When you walk into someone’s home near the holidays, you can always tell if they have a real Christmas tree. That fresh pine smell fills the room and fills your spirit with holiday cheer. Christmas trees are a symbol for the holiday because the green color shows everlasting life, staying a bright green color all year.

Christmas trees are a symbol for Wisconsin agriculture too. Christmas trees grow on more than 36,000 acres in the state.

There are a variety of trees that grow on all those acres: pine, spruce and fir. Each of the trees has different characteristics. The spruce tree is native to Wisconsin and is a popular Christmas tree variety. It has a good form and good color with a blue-silver tint. The tree holds the needles well, so they won’t fall on the floor in your home if the tree is properly cared for. That’s a good thing because the needles on a spruce tree are sharp.

The balsam fir is another native tree. The Fraser fir is not native, but it does grow well here. Balsam and fir trees are very similar in characteristics. They both have a uniform, pyramid shape. The coloring of a fir tree is unique. The top of the flat needles are a dark green color while the underside is silver. Fir trees have lots of little branches to hang ornaments on.

The white pine is a tree that I am most familiar with. On my family’s dairy farm, we had a small grove of white pines. We would cut our own tree from the grove each year. The white pine is also native to Wisconsin. The pine trees fill out very nicely when they are properly sheered as they grow. The needles are pretty long and very soft. I think I broke a couple ornaments when I was younger trying to hang them on the needles.

I got the chance to visit a Christmas tree farm a few weeks ago. In November, I visited Paul’s Tree Farm near Brodhead. One of about 1,400 tree farms in the state, Paul’s Tree Farm has been growing Christmas trees since 1948, the same year as the first Alice in Dairyland.

I visited the tree farm along with the fourth graders from Brodhead to cut down the state’s first Christmas tree. Paul’s Tree Farm is a choose-and-cut farm where you get to pick out and cut your own tree. I had a lot of fun cutting down one of around 1.8 million Christmas trees that will be cut down this year.

I encouraged the students to talk to their families about Christmas trees. We talked about how Christmas trees are good for the economy. Wisconsin’s Christmas tree industry generates $50 million in economic activity each year. Buying a Wisconsin Christmas tree, like buying other Wisconsin grown products, helps support our local farmers, producers, communities, economies, and all Wisconsin agriculture.

Buying a real Christmas tree isn’t just great for the economy. It’s good for the environment too. While the trees are growing, they are producing oxygen for us all to breathe. After the tree is used during the holidays, it can be recycled. Many communities have a mulch program to use the trees. Also, the trees can be used by fish farmers for feeding habitats. If you have a fake tree, what do you do with it when you decide you don’t want it anymore? That fake tree will most likely end up in a landfill.

But while you enjoy that real tree, make sure to keep it healthy while it’s on display in your home. Moisture is the key to proper tree care. Maintaining high moisture levels will reduce needle loss and keep the tree looking and smelling fresh. The water level in the stand should always be above the base of the tree. Freshly cut trees will absorb a lot of water, be sure to check the water levels daily and replenish water when needed.

Logon to the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association Web site (www.christmastrees-wi.org) to learn more about the varieties of tree, more tips for care, and to find a Christmas tree farm near you. Real Christmas trees aren’t the only way to decorate for the holidays. Don’t forget about real wreaths and swag to use for some holiday cheer. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Alice in Dairyland is Wisconsin’s agricultural ambassador. She travels over 40,000 miles each year to spread the word about our agricultural industry. Alice in Dairyland can be reached by writing to DATCP, 2811 Agriculture Drive, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53718.

You can schedule Alice for an upcoming event by contacting the Alice in Dairyland Program at (608) 224-5080 or by e-mail at DATCPAlice@wisconsin.gov.