Fresh Cut Christmas Trees
Linder’s Garden Center carries a variety of fresh cut Christmas trees. The following is a description of each type. It lists the virtues of each as well as their flocking capabilities.
Fraser Fir: This tree has the best needle retention of all the trees Linder’s carries. Its strong branches are turned slightly upward to give it a compact appearance. It has short, dark green needles. Fraser Firs are grown in North Carolina and Wisconsin. Its pleasant aroma makes it an excellent choice. It is one of the best trees to flock.
Grand Fir: This variety is grown in the Cascade Mountains. It takes 8-10 years to grow before it is marketable. It has a citrus aroma and is the most fragrant tree Linder’s carries. This beautifully shaped tree has excellent needle retention. This tree looks beautiful lightly flocked.
Noble Fir: This tree is grown in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Its wonderful fragrance, along with its needle retention makes this tree a wonderful choice for Christmas. Its spaced branches are great for hanging ornaments. It can be flocked.
Scotch Pine: A full appearing tree with dark green needles. Its stiff branches make it an ideal tree for hanging ornaments. It will hold its needles for the holiday season. It is one of the varieties that are painted green in the growing field because its needles naturally turn yellow in the fall. It takes 6-8 years to grow a 7-8 foot tree. Due to structural irregularities, Linder’s does not recommend flocking Scotch Trees.
White Pine: This tree has soft, green needles, which gives it a full and graceful appearance. It has good needle retention. Its needles are also painted green in the growing field because the needles turn yellow in the fall. Because it does not have stiff branches, flocking is not recommended.
Red/Norway Pine: This is the Minnesota state tree. Its sturdy branches hold ornaments well. Its long, elegant needles turn bronze in the fall so it is painted green in the field before harvesting. Due to structural irregularities, Linder’s does not recommend flocking Red Pines.
Balsam Fir: Fragrance and shape of Balsam Fir are what give this tree its widespread popularity. It has soft, short flat needles that give it a feathery appearance. It is the only true fir tree native to Minnesota. It takes 9-10 years to grow a 6-7 foot tree. It is a wonderful choice for flocking. This season we will be carrying a limited supply of unsheared Balsams for customers looking for a more natural and traditional type tree.
“Double Needled” Balsam Fir: This type of Balsam Fir has an extra row of needles on the branches giving it a fuller, ‘Fraser Fir” like appearance. Its fragrance and shape are like its namesake, the Balsam Fir. It makes a wonderful flocked tree.
Douglas Fir: This fir tree has soft needles that when crushed give off a sweet scent. It has great needle retention. Because it does not have stiff branches, flocking is not recommended
Flocked Trees: Out of all the varieties of trees the Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir are the best to be flocked. As flocking seals the needles on a tree, flocked trees do not need to be watered (unless it is only given a light flocking to resemble a fresh snowfall, then it should be kept watered) The flocking compound is made from wood shavings and glue, which allows the tree to last throughout the holiday season. All Linder’s flocked trees are flame retardant.