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Selection and Care of a Christmas Tree

Making It Grow Radio Minute
SC Public Radio

If you search “South Carolina Christmas Tree Association,” you’ll find ways of locating a farm near you. Click  on “Member Farms” for the address, hours, types of trees available, and other services like premade garlands. Most have bow saws for you to use to cut your own tree and help you get trees out of the field. Usually they’ll put your tree on a shaking platform to remove any loose needles or debris before bundling your fresh tree to prevent wind damage. If it’s more than an hour after your tree is cut before you get home, saw off one more inch and immediately put it in a bucket or the stand filled with water. Check that water daily – fresh trees are thirsty and will keep their needles and fragrance longer when well hydrated. Don’t mist trees, water does not mix with electric lights.

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Amanda McNulty is a Clemson University Extension Horticulture agent and the host of South Carolina ETV’s Making It Grow! gardening program. She studied horticulture at Clemson University as a non-traditional student. “I’m so fortunate that my early attempts at getting a degree got side tracked as I’m a lot better at getting dirty in the garden than practicing diplomacy!” McNulty also studied at South Carolina State University and earned a graduate degree in teaching there.