Here in Savannah, there are quite a few varieties of Christmas trees you’ll have to choose from when you head out to our area’s Christmas tree farms. As I was searching for information about our area’s trees, I came across Okatie Farm‘s website, which provided me with exactly what I was looking for for today’s blog!
Use this guide and tips to choose a Christmas tree in the South to make sure you get the best one for your home!
Virginia Pine
Our most plentiful species, the Virginia Pine is a native to the South and is one of the first trees to take over old fields. Virginia Pines grow rapidly, respond well to shearing, and handle the southern heat well, making them the ideal “Southern Christmas Tree.”
Leyland Cypress
Actually a naturally occurring hybrid from England, the Leyland Cypress looks just as good decorated for Christmas as it does as a landscape tree. The dense growth leaves little room for large ornaments, but small or flat ornaments and lots of lights make this tree come alive!
Carolina Saphire
A variety of Arizona Cypress, the Carolina Sapphire grows well in the south and have a very interesting aroma that combines with their shape to make a great new choice for Christmas. Just a side note, Okatie Farm is currenly sold out of this variety.
Eastern Red Cedar
Most Southerners over 40 years of age remember this as the traditional Christmas Tree of their youth. Growing wild along roadsides and in abandon fields, it was easy to go out into the countryside and take your pick.
Fraser Fir
Because they require cool summer weather and higher altitudes, Fraser Firs do not grow in South Carolina. However, across the border in North Carolina they are a major cash crop. The Fraser Firs at Okatie Farm are cut just prior to Thanksgiving and kept in water to ensure freshness!
Christmas Tree Tips
1. First, choose a fresh tree growing in a field. (It’s always best to choose one growing at a Christmas Tree Farm unless you’re really good friends with the person who owns the field.) If you choose a plastic tree in a box, none of the following will apply. Besides, real trees are a very renewable resource that can even be recycled into mulch or fish habitat after they have brightened up a family home!
2. Having made the critical decision to “go natural,” it’s important to decide how large you want your tree to be. The typical ceiling height is 8 feet. Allow a few inches for a stand and a few more for the trunk and you end up with space for a 7 foot tree.
3. Folks with a very high ceiling may want to consider the weight of the tree before they decide to fill the room up to the top. A very heavy tree will require a very heavy-duty stand and may even require rigging to secure it properly with the green side pointing up! Remember, if your tree falls on you, it can seriously spoil your Christmas.
4. Select a tree that you like. Everyone has a slightly different vision of the perfect tree. Okatie Farm has lots of trees, so your tree is out there somewhere. You just have to find it. Enjoy doing so in the great outdoors!
5. When you find that perfect (or almost perfect) tree, walk around it. Nature being what it is, very few trees are perfectly symmetrical and you will find that one side may look better than another. If the tree will be in the center of the room, this may be a problem, but if it’s going against the wall it may not matter. If you plan to put the tree in a corner you can hide a pretty big imperfection in an otherwise “perfect” tree.
6. Don’t cook your tree! A hot, dry house, lack of water or a location in direct sunlight can turn your lovely tree into a dried out twig. Be sure to water your tree every day, or more often. There are lots of remedies that are supposed to keep your tree fresh and green, but they all share a common ingredient — WATER!
7. All good things eventually come to an end and sooner or later your tree will dry out, despite your best efforts to keep it alive until Easter. When that happens, get it outside! If you want to do the birds a favor, place the tree in a corner of the yard until Easter and birds will use it for shelter against the winter cold.
Okatie Farm is located at 39 Okatie Bluff Road in Okatie, and is a wonderful place to start new traditions with your family! Don’t forget your camera when you visit!
