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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-12-06, Page 9WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6,1995 0 • Caring for and choosin a live Christmas tree trvith care. If lights are used, make sure that they give off as little heat as possible. Twinkle lights are best. 7. Remember, when removing the tree not to expose it to abrupt and extreme temperature changes. Plant the tree as soon as possible. If the ground is not frozen, the tree may be replanted immediately. The spot to be dug should be mulched e to prevent freezing. Some people dig the hole for their tree before freeze-up. If you are planting im- mediately, remove the plastic from the root ball. Do not remove the burlap and strapping. This keeps the root ball solid and secure. Set the tree in place and cover the hole with soil and straw. Earth removed from the original hole should be back-filled around the root ball. Mulch heavily over the top of the planted root ball to prevent it from freezing. Water frequently but care- fully in the spring: a flooded tree may die. Stake the tree to prevent wind -tipping or damage during the warmth first growing season. 8. If you are not able to plant your tree immediately after Christ- mas, store the tree outside in a shel- tered spot until spring. Pack the roots generously in straw and snow to protect them from freezing.. Some people keep the memory of their Christmas alive by buying trees ttiat come with the roots wrapped in a ball of soil and bur- lap. After the festive season is over, live trees can be planted outside where they will remain beautiful for years to come. There are some drawbacks to choosing a live tree however. They cost much more and are difficult to handle because the hall of soil is very heavy, weighing as much as 68 kilograms. Most im- portantly, live Christmas trees must receive special care over the holi- day season or they will die. Here are some tips, recommend- ed by the Christmas Tree Growers' Association of Ontario, on choos- ing and looking after a live tree: L When choosing a live tree, the final location in your yard must in- fluence the type you select. Most species like a sheltered. area out of , the wind while they are young, but all enjoy lots of sunlight. Soil types and the local environment influence which species of evergreen will grow best in your garden. Check with a reliable tree nursery or• a government forester to find out which species will .do well in your area. 2. Make sure that the root ball around the base of the tree is se- curely bound and that the dirt around it is tightly packed. If the roots have become detached from the soil ball, the tree will not grow well. Always carry the tree by the root ball, not the trunk. 3, Water the root ball as soon as you get the tree home. Let the ex- cess water drain off for at least a full day before wrapping it in plas- tic to preserve moisture. The plastic will also protect your household floors. The root ball should be kept damp, but not soaking wet. Make sure the tree receives adequate wa- ter. 4. The tree should be stored in an unheated and sheltered area such as a ,garage or porch, out of the wind and sun. Do not expose the root ball to repetitive freezing and thaw- ing. 5. Ten days is the maximum time that a live tree should spend in a heated house. If they stay inside anylonger, they will become too accustomed to being in the warm and will not be able to withstand the harsh cold outside again. Don't move the tree abruptly between temperature extremes - either tak- ing it into the house or back out. 6. The tree may be decorated, but • 1115 IMAM ADVANC, TIMES • • r/ 7r �•.y,1,�?.,;err,:'>� 2t9ui: J , p What Else Po We Do? �'•iif?''s Farming for that annual `exclusive' consumer market Originally, .the family Christmas • tree came from the forest. Today, almost all Christmas trees are grown on farms in North America. In Ontario, Christmas trees are exclusively. grown on farms, sheared and cared for to provide ' consumers with the best possible trees. • SEEDING: Usually Christmas trees begin life in a nursery where • .superior seed is planted and grown into two year old seedlings. Many are transplanted into beds for an- other year or two before being planted in the field where eventual- ly they will be harvested. The seed- lings are then taken from. the nur- sery beds and replanted on Christmas tree farms. GROWING TO A FULLSIZE: While growing, Christmas trees provide environmental benefits by serving as wildlife habitat, increas- . ing soil stability and providing a valuable and aesthetically pleasing improvement to the land. Some Christmas tree farms are even more beneficial because they utilize mar- ginal land for which there is little other use. There are many environ- mental benefits which are described in more detail elsewhere in this package. Each year the young' trees are shaped or pruned.l3y holding back rapid upward growth, the farmer can encourage the tree to branch more quickly and gradually achieve the full ,bushy appearance people prefer in their Christmas trees. Une- ven development may be corrected by shearing or pruning. During the six to sixteen years a Christmas tree is growing into a well shaped 6 to 8 foot marketable tree, it faces many hazards., Trees can suffer from too little sun or •rain, or vice versa. They can 'be de- stroyed by rodents, insects, disease, hail, fire, vandals or trespassing snowmobilers. They` can become overgrown with brush, vines and weeds or be stolen out of the field by thieves. • - HARVEST: At harvest time, wholesale ° growers select finished trees by placing tags on them. Usu- ally a whole field is nor ready f tsy sale in any one year. It often takes three to five years to clear the field for replanting. The tagged trees are cut, bundled and loaded onto trucks and railroad cars for the journey to any one of thousands of retail lots across the country. Many trees are sold by the "choose -and -cut" method. Families come to a Christmas tree farm to select and cut down the Christmas tree of their choice. Each year choosing and cutting that special tree together has become a more important family tradition. A Bereavement Support Group is being offered at Teeswater United Church, Thursday evenings from January 11 to February 29, 1996 from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. The cost is $5.00 per person plus cost of materials. (Book.) This program is offered through The Wingham & Area Palliative Care Services, Inc. The facilitator's broad education and experience relates to counselling in bereavement issues. Please call 357-2720 Mon. - Fri. 9 - 12 p.m. for more information or 357-3723 afternoons and evenings. We Install & Service Everything We Sell (Licensed Gas Fitters) Residential, Commercial, Industrial "All work performed by qualified and licensed trades persons." 357-4300 Hwy #4 Just South of Wingham Thank -You Our Open House' was a great success; If you didn't find your way to it .. we welcome you to drop in any time. 4 • aralallalsoirmli J 7ii 4 ,. �1 . i room. III ■ :1___1611 •isiiS�tIL!./a te111 j*"A!_ .►�!.iJ i�t ,,i� r,�-,�1.1�/1eiti, r It kills ignorance. It kills hunger and poverty. And it kills feelings of despair and hopelessness for millions of men, women and children around the world. CODE's literacy programs make a difference in developing nations. So help kill the problems of literacy. Support CODE Yss,1 want to help CODE right now. O Please send more information Here is my donation of 0 $30 0 $50 0 $75 U $100 U$ Name Phone 0 Address Provence __- Postal Code Send your donation to CODE: 321 Chapel St. Ottawa Ont. K1N 7Z2 Fax: (613) 232-7435 II you prefer to use VISA or MC call: 1 -800 -661 -CODE Registered Charily 0369076-29.10 Your don0I 00s are tax -creditable CODE J The Canadian Organization Mr Development through Education. Founded In 1959, CODE needs your help to continue to provide literacy prolect$ worldwide. 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