Christmas trees

Balsam fir and Fraser fir

These are true firs. Needles are flat, soft and blunt, shiny dark green above and with two pale lines beneath. They hold on well and smell sweet when crushed. Balsam fir grows in the north-east and Canada, and Fraser fir is native only to a few high southern Appalachian mountains but widely grown. Fraser fir needles curve slightly and show a silvery underside.

Douglas-fir

Douglas-fir is not a true fir. Its needles are soft and flat, and radiate around the twig. Crushed, they smell sweet and citrusy. Old cones on the floor have the three-pointed bracts, like a mouse's tail and back legs, that identify the tree.

Spruce

Colorado blue spruce, white spruce and Norway spruce are used. Needles are stiff, sharp and four-sided, so they roll between your fingers. Spruce needles drop sooner when the tree dries out. Blue spruce is silvery blue and especially prickly.

Pines

Scotch (Scots) pine is the commonest Christmas pine: needles in bundles of two, twisted and blue-green. Eastern white pine has soft needles in bundles of five and holds its needles well, but its branches are soft and bear only light ornaments.

A quick test on the lot

• Roll a needle between your fingers: square means spruce, flat means fir or Douglas-fir.
• Look at how the needles are attached: bundles mean pine.
• Crush a few needles and smell them: sweet balsam for fir, citrus for Douglas-fir.
• Check the cut end for fresh, sticky sap.

Choosing and caring

A fresh tree is one whose needles do not drop when you tap the trunk on the ground. Cut a thin slice from the base of the trunk before it goes into a stand and keep the stand filled with water. Keep the tree away from heat sources and fireplaces.

After Christmas

Many towns collect trees for chipping or mulching, and a tree can be sunk in a pond as fish habitat where permitted. Check the options with your local council.