Choose and cut a Christmas tree this weekend

Quick on the heels of Thursday’s turkey dinner comes another Sacramento-area Thanksgiving weekend tradition: A trek up the hill for a Christmas tree.

The El Dorado County Christmas Tree Growers Association reports good conditions for this season’s tree hunters. Recent rain refreshed conifers and helped them look their best. Cold nights set the needles (so they don’t all fall out before you get home).

Although it will be appropriately chilly, Apple Hill and the Placerville area are expecting mostly clear weather this weekend with highs just under 60 degrees – perfect for tree hunting.

Local tree farms groom their sustainably-grown firs, pines, cedars and spruces so these trees will be ready to star throughout the holidays.

“Each year, thousands of families come up to the beautiful forested foothills of El Dorado County to choose and cut their Christmas trees,” says the association. “We invite you to join in this delightful tradition. Enjoy an old fashioned family Christmas.”

Starting Friday, most farms will be open daily; check the association’s website for farm details. Remember: It gets dark early. Plan to harvest your tree before 4 p.m.

What to bring? “All of our Christmas tree farms furnish saws and most supply the netting and twine you’ll need to bring your tree home,” says the association. “Some farms also provide helpers to assist in cutting and carrying your tree. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes, warm clothes, and gloves.”

Several farms also offer amenities such as apple cider (this is Apple Hill!) or hot chocolate.

Most tree farms regrow trees from the same roots; that allows a tree to produce a repeat “harvest” in fewer years than growing a mature tree from seedling. (The same goes for forest-grown trees.) The trick: Don’t cut the tree too short. Leave some trunk.

“Please don’t cut the tree too close to the ground,” says the association. “If you leave at least two rows of green branches on the stump, a new tree will sprout up from it.”An important tip: Keep your receipt. “Make sure that you get a receipt – these serve as Christmas tree transportation permits in El Dorado County,” the association says.

Once you get your tree home, inspect it before bringing it indoors. After all, this tree was part of a forest just hours earlier. “It’s a good idea to hose off your tree to remove foreign materials and insects,” says the association. “If possible, use soapy water first and then rinse with fresh water. After you’ve cleaned your tree and shaken it dry, make a fresh cut at the butt of the tree of at least a half an inch and put it in a stand filled with water. Set up your tree away from heat sources, and check the stand daily to make sure it stays filled with water.”