To Cut or Not to Cut!

How do you like your holiday tree? Do you buy a cut tree, use an artificial tree or do you provide a home for a living tree and replant? I presented these questions to people who visit my Forestry Forum and got some really interesting feedback.

Review the replies to my questions and take this Poll

Have you ever dreamed of growing your own Christmas tree and saving forty bucks? Or better yet, planting 20 acres of trees to make the "big killing" of a future Christmas season.

Christmas Trees, Growing and Selling Trees, Wreaths, and Greens is written by grower and Christmas tree expert Lewis Hill. Mr. Hill's book covers all the basics and leaves no stone unturned. You just can't start a tree farm without this 152 page jewel.

Cover by Storey Communications, Inc.

Some people prefer the artificial aluminum tree or Anser pseudarboris Addis 1885. Artificial trees have become increasingly popular, as they are considered more convenient and (if used for several years) less expensive than real trees.

About Collectibles Guide Barbara Crews says that "If you're an ornament collector, there are artificial trees to stay away from and trees that will really highlight your collection. It can get pretty confusing. Gone are the days when you picked a tree by size. Now the decision is what species of tree, lit or unlit, bottle brush or hyper-realistic and size. Or you might opt to go the way of the blatantly artificial trees, such as the tinsel tree, black tree or even the wild looking bubble tree!"

See Barb's feature on Black, Traditional PVC, Hyper-Realistic and Bubble Trees.

A cord is a lot of wood - sometimes. It is usually your state's legal unit of measure for wood. You are buying a unit of wood based on 128 cubic feet of condensed, stacked roundwood including bark and some air confined to an area 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet. But if the firewood is cut to fit a stove or fireplace, is split and tightly stacked, the cord volume fitting the same space is reduced to 85 to 90 cubic feet. You are adding more air. If it is haphazardly piled, the volume can be almost half that...Read More