Common Characteristics:
These soft needles are dark green – blue green in color and are approximately 1 – 1 ½ in. in length. The douglas fir needles radiate in all directions from the branch. When crushed, these needles have a sweet fragrance. They are one of the top major Christmas tree species in the U.S.
Description:
Douglas-fir is not related to the true firs.
This wide ranging species grows from 70 to 250 feet tall. The branches are spreading to drooping, the buds sharply pointed and the bark is very thick, fluted, ridged, rough and dark brown.
The needles are dark green or blue green, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, soft to the touch and radiate out in all directions from the branch. They have a sweet fragrance when crushed.
Pollen strobili are small and reddish-brown. Young cones are small, oval shaped and hang downward. They are reddish-brown to gray, 3″ long and do not dissipate to spread seed as do true firs (Abies sp.). The cones open in the late summer to disperse the seeds and will continue to hang on the trees through the fall.
Details of this tree species provided by National Christmas Tree Association
Caring for your tree
Thank you for purchasing a Christmas Tree at Pine Valley Farms. You may have noticed dead needles inside the tree.
Evergreen trees shed their inside needles every fall and sometimes needles lodge among the branches.
This is a normal process and not the sign of a old tree.
To keep your tree fresh as possible, we recommend the following care.
1. Cover your tree for the ride home.
2. Once the tree is home, make a fresh , straight cut across the trunk about an inch from the original cut.
This opens the tree stem so it can take up water. Then plunge the trunk end immediately into fresh water.
If the water level drops below the fresh cut, a seal will form and a new cut will be necessary.
3. Trees are thirsty. They may drink between two pints and a gallon of water per day.