It’s that time of year again. During the hustle and bustle that accompanies the holiday season, we somehow manage to find the time to continue the time-honored tradition of selecting and decorating the perfect Christmas tree. But after we’ve found that perfect tree, what should you do next? How do we make sure that our “perfect” tree continues to look perfect through the holiday season? This is a common question for us here at Van Wilgen’s, and I would like to go over some very simple steps for keeping your cut tree looking great.

It’s important to note that this article deals specifically with cut trees. We would be more than happy to assist you with any live tree (roots still attached) care at any of our locations. Before I list the steps that I recommend for keeping your tree looking its best, it may help to think of a cut tree like a large bouquet of flowers. Many of the practices we employ with the care of a vase of freshly cut flowers transfer over to our care of cut Christmas trees. Try these tips and I have no doubt you’ll be enjoying that perfect tree through the holiday season!

• Choose a stand that is large enough for your tree. Shaving down the bark to get the tree to fit is bad practice. Those outer layers of bark are the best at absorbing water, which is the most important part of keeping our tree fresh!
• Have a fresh cut done before putting the tree into the stand. This increases the water absorption capability of the tree.
• Get your tree in water AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after making this cut. Keep the cut free of dirt. This is the most critical point. The sooner you can get the tree into the water, the better.
• If you’re not putting the tree into a stand immediately after the fresh-cut, it’s ok! Just be sure to put that tree into a bucket of water until you’re ready to put it up!
• After your tree is in the stand, keep it full of water. Your tree will generally “drink” the most water within the first few days of being set up. It’s critical that the stand remains full of water so check often! At the very least, check daily throughout the holiday season.
• Drilling a hole in the base of the tree does NOT help with water intake.
• The temperature of the water that is added to the stand does NOT make a difference. Also, never add anything to the water to preserve freshness other than products that are specifically formulated to do so. Prolong is a good example of one. Using home remedies or solutions found on the internet have no effect at best, and at worst may hasten the decline of the tree!
• Try to keep the tree away from direct heat sources whenever possible. For example, away from heat vents/registers, fireplaces, direct sunlight, space heaters, etc. Also, use lights that produce less heat such as L.E.D.’s. This has the added benefit of less energy consumption and longer life. Both of which are better for the environment!

In the end, it is all about maintaining and keeping moisture in your tree. If you take the steps to get your tree into water as soon as you can after the fresh-cut and keep the water in your stand full at all times, you will have that perfect Christmas tree looking its best through the holiday season! We hope you have the very best and brightest holiday season! And we look forward to seeing you soon!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, what kind of Christmas tree is best for me?

For many of us, putting up and decorating a Christmas tree is a staple part of the holiday season. Gathering with the family, pulling out boxes of handmade ornaments, and finding the perfect branch to put each one on is a time-honored tradition. For the truly adventurous, choosing a tree begins with a trek into our tree field with a saw in hand and seemingly limitless choices around you. At Van Wilgen’s we carry several varieties of Christmas trees, each with its own unique features. To help make the choice a little easier, we’ve compiled a few quick facts about our favorite tree options.

Fraser Fir

• All of our pre-cut trees are Fraser Firs, though we also have a selection available in the tree field
• Pre-cut trees range in size from 4 feet, up to 11 feet tall
• Trees in the field are up to 6 feet tall
• Needles are short, dark green with a silver underside
• Soft to the touch
• Very fragrant with excellent needle retention
• Branches are strong, making them great for heavy ornaments

Douglas Fir

• Trees are up to 8-9 feet in height
• Needles are long and light green in color
• Soft to the touch.
• Very full in shape.
• Extremely fragrant- smells like oranges!
• Best needle retention

Blue Spruce

• Up to 10 feet in height
• Needles are frosty blue in color
• Sharp to the touch…Kids & Pets be careful!
• Blue Spruce has the strongest branches making it the best choice for heavy ornaments
• Pleasant fragrance
• Good needle retention

Turkish Fir

• A Van Wilgen Favorite!
• Up to 7-8 feet in height (6-7 feet is average)
• Needles are dark green with a silvery underside
• Needles are larger and showier than that of Fraser Fir
• Soft to the touch
• Best fragrance and needle retention
• Sturdy branches are perfect for heavy ornaments

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Here at Van Wilgen’s, we want to make your holiday as easy and as stress-free as possible. Unlike other tree farms and garden centers, we offer a range of services to make your holiday worry-free so you can focus on enjoying the holiday! Here’s what you can look forward to this holiday season:

Hands-on Tree Service

We’ll help you cut, bail, and tie your perfect tree to your car for the ride home. We’ll even deliver it to the parking lot for you if it’s too heavy to carry! In a rush? We also have a selection of pre-cut trees for your convenience.

Custom Wreath and Bow Making

We love Christmas and we want you to celebrate the joy of the season just like us! Our courtyard is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We’re busy crafting all kinds of decorations. Wreaths, bows, tree toppers, swags, and garlands, the list is endless. Come in and we can make a unique wreath to order for any color scheme or theme.

Van Wilgen Grown Poinsettias

Not your average Poinsettia! From the new ‘Princettia’ to the classic reds and whites, we have a variety of colors and sizes to choose from. Need to wrap it up as a gift? No problem, from classic wrap to stylish self-watering pot colors we have lots of festive choices.

It’s that time of year here at the garden center when we peek through the holiday greens on the patio and spot families trudging through our tree fields, decked out in their Sunday best, bags of pre-wrapped gifts or other props in hand. Everyone’s in search of the perfect spot to take the annual family photo. So many of these photos will end up being featured in holiday cards. If your like us and love to make your own cards instead of purchasing store-made ones, we know you’ll want your photos to be extra special.

We also know that in the midst of the yuletide season, with decorating, gift buying, worrying about delivery dates, backorders, and everything in between this holiday season, accomplishing a family photo can feel like an Olympic event! Wouldn’t it be great if someone made it a little easier for you? That’s where we can help.

In addition to our tree field, you can find photo-perfect decorated areas and lovely vignettes for you and your families to pose with. You can stop by one of our classic red barns, pose with one of our tractors or Dimond T truck, or get festive in the tree field. There are also loads of colors and photo-op spots located in the greenhouse and on our front patio. The sky is the limit! It’s a fun, festive time of year and it’s always a joy for us to be able to help.

Just in case you are looking for a few pointers on how to create great photos, here are a few simple tips:

• The best place to get flattering, natural lighting is outside.
• Try shooting in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the squint-inducing glare of direct sunlight.
• Find an area that your family can be in the shade, to secure even, soft light.
• Take a walk around, and see what areas inspire you. The sky’s the limit!