{"id":52421,"date":"2013-11-21T02:30:30","date_gmt":"2013-11-21T07:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ClevelandMomsRock.com\/?p=75"},"modified":"2013-11-21T02:30:30","modified_gmt":"2013-11-21T07:30:30","slug":"christmas_tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clevelandmomsrock.com\/index.php\/2013\/11\/21\/christmas_tree\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas tree: Cut vs. Live vs. Artificial"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was a kid, buying a Christmas tree was not just a trip to the tree lot but a major holiday experience. I remember one year my dad filled up the station wagon with all of the kids. Yes, he had several station wagons over the years. Each one a little uglier and more dated. The last one which was involved in this story was royal blue with a two-foot fake wood stripe down the side. Who\u2019s with me? We drove over an hour to Mansfield to pick out a tree which in hindsight, was probably off the same tree farm of the Christmas Tree that were around the corner from our house. Needless to say, it had lost a lot of needles on the roof of the station wagon on the way back to our house. Dad was so happy because it was $2 cheaper than the local ones.<\/h3>\n

When picking out a tree nowadays, the list of options and criteria are much longer than my dad\u2019s lone requirement of good deal. He doesn\u2019t seem to out there now, does he? The choice between a cut, live, or artificial tree is a difficult one. An artificial Prelit Christmas Tree<\/a>\"\" shipped directly to your front door with Amazon<\/a>\"\" free shipping is a tempting choice. However, the cut vs. live tree option is a little messier, literally and figuratively.<\/h3>\n

A live tree is a cool option but can be difficult to plant after the holidays if the ground is still frozen. In addition, because of the root ball, anything over six feet you will need a crane to get into your house. If you are selecting a live tree, choose one that will grow and thrive in northern Ohio. A fun trip with the kids is to cut your own Christmas tree. There are several cut-your-own tree farms in Northeast Ohio. A good list can be found on the Ohio Christmas Tree Association website (Link). <\/a>If you are buying one from a parking lot or big box store, make sure the tree is from a sustainable tree farm. A fresh Christmas tree that fills your home with scent of pine is always a holiday favorite.<\/h3>\n

Here are a few selection tips:<\/h3>\n

\u2022 Look for one with good color. Dull needles could be an indication of dryness or its lot age.
\n\u2022 Find one that was recently harvested.
\n\u2022 Shake the tree, look for excessive needle loss. Some needle loss is normal on any tree. However, when it is shaken, it should retain most of its needles.
\n\u2022 Brittle needles that break are a sign of a dehydrated tree.
\n\u2022 Check for the presence of insects and other pests.<\/h3>\n

\"Christmas<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I was a kid, buying a Christmas tree was not just a trip to the tree lot but a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4NId2-dDv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":290,"url":"https:\/\/clevelandmomsrock.com\/index.php\/2013\/12\/10\/family_winter_fun\/","url_meta":{"origin":52421,"position":0},"title":"Outside Winter Family Fun","author":"Cleveland Moms Like You","date":"December 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The snow is falling in Northeast Ohio. Now bundle up the family and get out in it! There are so many great fun activities to do with your family. We put together a list of our favorite winter time activities. \u00a0 The Polar Express on the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad Tickets\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/clevelandmomsrock.com\/index.php\/category\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52308,"url":"https:\/\/clevelandmomsrock.com\/index.php\/2015\/01\/30\/fathers_day_gift_guide\/","url_meta":{"origin":52421,"position":1},"title":"Father's Day Gift Guide 2015","author":"Cleveland Moms Like You","date":"January 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you been looking for the perfect Father\u2019s Day gift? Dad\u2019s big day is just around the corner. Dads, grandfathers, and father-in-laws are extremely hard to buy for and I never want to be the one who just picked up the Gift Card at the grocery store. That is why\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/clevelandmomsrock.com\/index.php\/category\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"http:\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":52423,"url":"https:\/\/clevelandmomsrock.com\/index.php\/2013\/11\/01\/fat_dad_1\/","url_meta":{"origin":52421,"position":2},"title":"Is It Time For Dad To Lose Some Weight?","author":"Cleveland Moms Like You","date":"November 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Are Your Kids Telling You That It Is Time For Dad To Lose Some Weight?\u00a0This is beginning of a series of post on a Cuyahoga Dad's efforts to lose weight. I am 36 years old, 5\u20198\" and 219 lbs. I would like to say I was muscular or stocky but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/clevelandmomsrock.com\/index.php\/category\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":465,"url":"https:\/\/clevelandmomsrock.com\/index.php\/2013\/11\/26\/santa_claus_in_cleveland\/","url_meta":{"origin":52421,"position":3},"title":"Santa Claus & Elf on the Shelf in Cleveland","author":"Cleveland Moms Like You","date":"November 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"What would Christmas be without a picture of your child with Santa. (Find the mall or shopping center near you.) This tradition has always had mixed results in our family. Our youngest loves Santa Claus but has reservations about sitting anywhere near him. 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