Holiday Trees and Safety
By Dan Buelow
The holidays are here and for many families that means cutting or purchasing a real live Christmas tree. The first commercial holiday trees were sold in the United States beginning in 1851 [1]. First written record of decorated Christmas trees however goes all the way back to 1510 in Latvia [2]. Since those early days holiday trees have become a popular and ever-growing tradition as approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees are now sold in the U.S. every year [1]. With over 350,000 acres of holiday tree production in the U.S. alone, currently Christmas tree farms in the U.S. are growing close to 350 million real holiday trees [1]. And these numbers are farm numbers that do not even begin to factor in the many holiday trees that are sold and harvested by permit from federal, state, and county lands across America. We at Boulder County Forestry just held our annual Holiday Tree sale at Reynolds Ranch near Nederland on Dec. 4 and 5, where 100 tree permits were sold and residents from across the area came out to select and cut their very own holiday tree.
Of course there has always been debate whether to go with a live or an artificial tree for the holidays. Harvesting live trees from the forest or the farm may seem detrimental to some; however, there exist many environmental and economic benefits to sustainably growing and harvesting live trees. The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) identifies that while live real Christmas trees are growing, they support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases from the atmosphere and emit fresh oxygen. Trees on farms and trees that naturally grow in the forest stabilize soil, protect water supplies, and provide refuge for wildlife all while creating scenic and healthy forests and green belts. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soil that does not support other crops [3].
Real live trees are a renewable, reusable, and recyclable resources that may be used for mulching, composting, or as forage for livestock or wildlife. In a nutshell, Doug Hundley from NCTA states "after Christmas is over, they [real live trees] are fully recyclable and biodegradable. Whereas artificial trees have three times the impact on climate change and resource depletion than real trees. After they are thrown away, artificial trees sit in landfills for years. While they are growing, real Christmas trees convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, reduce erosion and provide habitat for many animals" [4]. The NCTA also points out that artificial trees are petroleum based, contain non-biodegradable plastics, and possible metal toxins such as lead [1].
When it comes down to it, real live trees are a wonderful choice because and they are renewable. For every one live tree harvested for the holidays; one to three seedlings are sustainably planted the following year [1]. On national, state and county lands where trees are harvested from the forest, the removal of these trees benefits the forest and ecosystem by thinning the forest and creating environments with healthier trees and habitat. Furthermore, economically speaking, there are close to 15,000 farms in the U.S. that employ over 100,000 workers full or part time in the industry [1].
Lastly, we always desire for everyone to be safe at the holidays with real live trees. Below are a few helpful tips and reminders from the National Fire Protection Association about live Christmas trees:
PICKING THE TREE
• Choose a tree with fresh green needles that do not fall off when touched.
PLACING THE TREE
• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents, or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.
LIGHTING THE TREE
• Use lights that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed [5].
Literature Cited:
[1] National Christmas Tree Association. (12/2021). "Quick Tree Facts". https://realchristmastrees.org/education/quick-tree-facts/
[2] National Christmas Tree Association. (12/2021). "The History of Christmas Trees". https://realchristmastrees.org/education/history-of-christmas-trees/
[3] National Christmas Tree Association. (12/2021). "Environmental Benefits". https://realchristmastrees.org/education/environmental-benefits/
[4] Hundley, D. (November 20, 2021). "Who Isn’t Excited to Get a Real Christmas Tree This Year?" National Christmas Tree Association. https://realchristmastrees.org/?mdocs-file=1542
[5] National Fire Protection Association. (12/2021). "Christmas Tree Safety". https://www.nfpa.org//-/media/Files/Public-Education/Resources/Safety-tip-sheets/ChristmasTreeSafetyTips.pdf
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