JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – You may have a harder time finding a Christmas tree this year, and you may have sticker shock when you do. It's all because of the economic recession a decade ago.
Declining Christmas tree sales in 2007, during the Great Recession, led tree growers to plant fewer trees. That's according to a spokesperson for the National Christmas Tree Association, the trade association representing the Christmas tree industry. The result, 10 years later, is a smaller supply because a 7- or 8-foot Christmas tree takes about 10 years to grow.
The exact increase in price for Christmas trees this year will vary based on the type of tree, its size and the location where the tree is purchased, but estimates are you will pay at least 5 percent to 10 percent more than last year.
Plus, if you wait until the last minute, trees could be in short supply and even more expensive. The NCTA suggests shopping between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1 to optimize selection.
Keeping it alive
If you a buy a tree that early, how do you keep it in good shape all the way through the end of December?
You need to take steps from the moment you buy one.
Most Christmas trees travel to their owner's home on the top of a vehicle. Without some kind of covering, the wind can dry the Christmas tree out.
The first step to keeping a Christmas tree fresh is to cover the tree as you go home to keep the wind from damaging it.
A Christmas tree is essentially a giant cut flower. Unless you cut your own Christmas tree, chances are the tree you buy has been sitting on the lot for several days.
Cutting off just a quarter-inch of the bottom of the trunk will remove clogs and open up the tree's vascular system again. A simple, straight cut is all that is needed. Drilling holes or cutting at angles will not improve how well the Christmas tree takes up water.
Watering your Christmas tree is essential to keeping it alive. Make sure to fill the stand immediately after you cut the trunk.
If you want to make a Christmas tree last longer, just use plain water. Studies have shown that plain water will work as well to keep a Christmas tree alive as anything added to the water.
Check the Christmas tree stand twice a day as long as the tree is up. It is important that the stand stay filled.
A Christmas tree stand normally holds a rather small amount of water, and a Christmas tree can quickly use up the water in the stand.
You also want to keep the tree from drying out for safety reasons. A dry tree can easily catch fire if it's placed near any type of heat source or open flame. Keep it away from space heaters, wood stoves, hot lights, fireplaces and candles. These can all cause the tree to dry out faster, making it a fire hazard.
Avoid tipping
Another thing you want to avoid is a wobbly tree that could tip over.
Make sure that when you pick out a tree, you know the weight and height and have a tree stand that coincides with the measurements.
If you don't plan on buying a heavy-duty stand, you will want to pick a smaller tree or you will risk an accident. Most heavy-duty stands cost between $50 and $100.
One more safety tip: If you have an artificial tree, each and every year it comes out of the box, check each light, as well as the wiring. Look for exposed or frayed wires. You want to make sure everything looks the way it should to avoid fire or electric shock.