Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree for Your Home
The holiday season isn’t complete without the warmth and beauty of a REAL Christmas tree. While Pine & Posey is not yet offering Christmas trees, we are growing our future choose-and-cut farm to provide fresh, local options in the years ahead! In the meantime, we encourage you to support other local Christmas tree farms in Indiana and experience the joy of selecting a real tree this season.
Fir tree growing at our Pine & Posey future u-cut Christmas tree farm. It will be a few years until these are marketable size.
Christmas Tree Varieties
Pine trees have been a traditional Christmas tree for decades but firs are now the most commom and popular type. Spruces and even cypress trees can make great trees also. The Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association (ICTGA), a great group we are lucky to be a part of, offers a wonderul page with needle photos to help you identity trees easily.
Fir Trees
Fir trees are known for their excellent needle retention, pleasant fragrance, and strong branches. The most popular varieties include:
Fraser Fir – Blue-green needles, a fresh scent, and sturdy branches make this the gold standard.
Balsam Fir – Traditional Christmas tree aroma with a full shape.
Concolor Fir – Soft needles and a citrus-like fragrance.
Canaan Fir – A cross between Fraser and Balsam, offering a great mix of traits. (This is the variety we are growing the most of at the farm!)
Douglas Fir – Pale-green, soft (but more delicate) needles making it child-friendly.
Korean Fir – Dark green needles with silvery undersides.
Pine Trees
Pines provide a classic Christmas look and are often an economical choice. They include:
Scots Pine – Dense branches with strong needle retention.
White Pine – Soft needles with a feathery look, best for lightweight ornaments.
Spruce Trees
If you love full-bodied, traditional Christmas trees, spruce trees are a great option:
Black Hills Spruce – Softer needles than Blue Spruce, but still sturdy.
Colorado Blue Spruce – silvery blue-tinted needles with a full appearance. Fragrant but sharp needles.
Where to Buy
While we are not yet selling trees, there are wonderful local tree farms where you can find fresh-cut and U-cut options. Check out these three nearby farms that we’ve personally bought from before:
Greentree Farm Christmas Trees – western Howard County
Cruise In Trees – near Cutler on 400 E (Carroll County)
Dull’s Tree Farm – near Thorntown (Boone County)
For a full list of nearby Indiana tree farms, visit the Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association (ICTGA) website, where you can find an interactive farm map and contact information.
Additionally, for expert tips on selecting and caring for a real Christmas trees, visit the Real Christmas Tree Board website.
How to Select the Right Tree
Size & Shape
Measure your space before buying! Consider ceiling height, room width, and whether the tree will be seen from multiple angles.
Needle Retention
Fir trees generally hold needles the longest, while spruce trees may shed faster if not watered properly.
Fragrance
Balsam, Fraser, and Concolor firs have the strongest Christmas scents, while pine trees have a milder aroma.
Branch Strength
For heavy ornaments, opt for Fraser Fir, Blue Spruce, or Scots Pine, as they have the strongest branches.
Assessing a Good Tree
Gently pull the branches—if needles fall excessively, the tree may be too dry. Look for vibrant color and a fresh-cut trunk.
Transporting Your Christmas Tree
Securing the Tree to Your Vehicle
Bring ropes or bungee cords to tie down the tree. Place the tree trunk-first toward the windshield to minimize wind damage. If using a roof rack, wrap the tree in a tarp to reduce needle loss. Many farms offer tree wrapping as a service which ties the tree up with netting to reduce damage in transport, so if that’s beneficial to you make sure you ask for about that service!
Setting Up Your Christmas Tree
Prepare the Tree Stand
The stand is literally the foundation to your success with a fresh tree. Use a sturdy stand that is big enough for your size of tree - the height, weight, and trunk diameter will guide you - and holds a gallon or so of water.
Make a Fresh Cut
Water uptake is critical to keeping your tree fresh! Cut ½ inch off the base before placing it in water to ensure proper hydration. All Christmas trees are conifers, meaning they produce resin, which creates a seal on the trunk after it’s been cut for a while. So a fresh cut is important!
Position & Straighten the Tree
Place the tree away from heat sources (fire places, windows, heat vents, etc…) and secure it upright before decorating. Most stands have screws or pins, make sure those are tight and evenly secure around the tree.
Christmas Tree Care
Watering
Natural trees need plenty of water. Get your tree home and in water as soon as possible. A fresh tree can drink up to a gallon of water per day—check the stand daily to keep water above the base of the trunk! Plain tap water is your best option, additives like sugar, aspirin, corn syrup, or bleach should not be put into the tree’s water.
Temperature
Keep your tree away from fireplaces, vents, and direct sunlight to prevent and accelerate drying out.
Tree Disposal
Once the season ends, consider these eco-friendly disposal options:
Mulch it for garden beds.
Donate it to local conservation projects.
Donate it a local livestock farm or someone with a large fish pond (ask around your community or search Facebook).
Curbside pickup (Kokomo offers recycling through curbside pickup on regular trash days).
Recycling (Howard County residents can set up an appointment to dispose of trees ar the Howard County Recycling District, call 765-456-2274).
At Pine & Posey, we look forward to offering a U-cut Christmas tree experience in the future. Until then, we hope you visit a local tree farm this season and enjoy the timeless tradition of bringing home a real tree!
For more information on live trees, visit the Real Christmas Tree Board: https://realchristmastreeboard.com/