Appeal Tribune, www.silvertonappeal.com
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
STATESMAN JOURNAL FILE
David White, of Salem, gets help with the Christmas tree he cut down with his sons at Palmer’s Tree Farm in Salem.
Keeping it real
Where to find, how to care
for fresh Christmas trees
KYM POKORNY
SPECIAL TO THE STATESMAN JOURNAL
After Thanksgiving, it’s time to get
out the lights, the garlands, the baubles
and balls, but don’t get ahead of yourself.
“Know how to choose a fresh tree and
how to keep it that way or you’ll be dis-
appointed,” said Chal Landgren, a
Christmas tree specialist with Oregon
State University’s Extension Service.
“It’s also not safe to have a dried-out tree
in the house, so it’s doubly important to
know what to do.”
A lot of information swirls around the
issue of how to purchase and preserve a
Christmas tree once you get it home,
some of it misleading. Landgren helps
you get it right with answers to the most
pressing questions.
Q: How do I know a tree is fresh
when I purchase it?
A: Choose a tree that looks green and
healthy with needles that snap like a
fresh carrot. Shake it a few times to get
rid of old needles. When you’re home,
place the tree in water if you do not plan
to put it up immediately. Choose a large,
water-filled stand to display the tree in-
doors. Check the water level daily; trees
will be very thirsty the first few days in-
side a heated home.
Q: Do I need to re-cut the stem after I
get my tree home?
A: Yes, if more than 24 hours has
elapsed since the stem was last cut. The
fresh cut helps water uptake, and the
sooner you can get the tree into water,
the fresher it will be.
MOLLY J. SMITH/STATESMAN JOURNAL
See TREES, Page 3B
Rows of Nordmann firs are ready to be cut at the Skyline Christmas Tree Farm. Grass walkways are grown in between different lots of trees at
the farm to help with soil erosion.
Local Christmas tree farms
Palmer’s Tree Farm
Area tree farms open for the season for the
most part Nov. 25 or Nov. 26.
To get there: 5840 Basil St. NE, Salem; go east
on Center Street, half mile past Cordon Road,
right on Hampden Lane and left on Basil
Street. Follow “U-Me Cut” signs.
To get there: 4716 Poinsettia St. NE, Salem;
take 99E about 3 miles past Chemawa Road
and turn right on Poinsettia Street; from
Interstate 5, take Brooks Exit (Exit 263), then
Brooklake Road east one mile to Brooks, turn
right on Highway 99E and go about one mile
to Poinsettia Street; from Keizer, head north
on River Road N, take a right on Quinaby
Road, then go to 99 E, turn right and you’ll
see signs.
Open: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 25 weekends
through Dec. 11; weekdays by appointment
Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Nov. 25 through
Dec. 18
Trees: Nordmann, grand, balsam,
Douglas-firs, $10 to $22
Trees: Noble, Nordmann, corkbark, Douglas,
Fraser, grand and Turkish firs, Serbian and
blue, green and Norway spruces; heights up to
13 feet. Trees start at $15; tabletop trees start
at $6
Northeast Salem
Bellman U-Me Cut Tree Farm
Extras: Hauling, cutting and loading
assistance, candy canes and hand saws; cut
trees available
Contact: 503-362-0842
East Salem
Tamanhous Tillikum
Christmas Tree Farm
To get there: 11805 State St., Salem; go east
on State Street, located approximately 7 miles
east of Cordon Road. From the Silverton or
Sublimity areas, take Cascade Highway to
State Street, approximately 1 mile west of
Cascade Highway. Look for the sleigh sign and
a tan fruit stand at the end of the driveway.
Open: 9 a.m. to dark daily Nov. 25 through
Dec. 24
Trees: Nobles, $25 any size U-cut; $30 we cut
Extras: Wreaths (greens only), $10 and $15;
decorated wreaths, $20 and up; decorate your
own wreath, $15 and up (provided pre-made
wreath and embellishments to choose from);
free cookies and cider
Contact: 503-510-8257,
Facebook.com/tamanhoustillikum
bonfires; no credit or debit cards; dogs
allowed
Contact: 855-447-6660
Green Hill Farms
To get there: 6548 Liberty Road SE, Salem; go
11/2 miles south of the intersection of Kuebler
Boulevard and Liberty Road
Open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays,
Nov. 26 through Dec. 11
Trees: Douglas-firs and grand firs, $15 or $10
with military ID
Extras: Candy canes, cutting and loading
assistance, holly and decorations for sale
Contact: 503-585-9032
In Town Trees
To get there: 1640 Barnes Ave. SE, take
Commercial south, left on Kuebler, right on
Stroh, then straight ahead
Extras: Free hot chocolate and candy canes;
wagon/train rides, a showroom with flocked
trees, pre-cut trees, wreaths and stands for
sale; carts for you-pick; family fun including a
nativity and singing Christmas tree; plus
employees will put on Davis Tree stands and
provide cutting assistance and shaking and
baling services. Voted best Christmas tree farm
in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Open: Noon to dark Fridays and 9 a.m. to
dark Saturdays-Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec.
11
Contact: 503-393-2762,
palmerschristmastrees.com
Extras: Loading assistance and delivery to
South Salem available at extra charge; you
choose, we cut
South Salem
Ballyntyne Tree Farm
To get there: 2556 Ballyntyne Road, Salem;
go west on Kuebler Boulevard past
Commercial Street and Liberty Road, turn left
on Croisan Creek Road to Ballyntyne Road
Open: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends, Nov.
26-Dec. 4
Trees: Nordmanns and nobles up to 13 feet;
prices start at $20
Contact: 503-586-6722
Schipporeit Christmas Tree
Farm
To get there: 4455 27th Ave. SE, Salem, south
on Interstate 5 to Exit 252, west a quarter-mile
to 27th Avenue, north a quarter-mile to the
farm; follow the signs
Trees: Noble, Douglas and grand firs up to 12
feet, $30 any tree
Open: Noon to 5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays
and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays, Nov. 25
through Dec. 24
Extras: Hot cocoa, saws, twine, baling and
Trees: Douglas, grand and noble firs. Douglas
and grands are $25 up to 81/2 feet and nobles
are $45 up to 81/2 feet. Sizes up to 12 feet
available for additional charge.
Extras: Cutting assistance, restrooms and
saws
Contact: 503-378-1723
Skyline Christmas Tree Farm
To get there: 7300 Skyline Road SE, Salem,
from Interstate 5 take Kuebler west. Left on
Skyline Road and follow the signs (two miles
past Vitae Springs Road)
Open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays-Sundays Nov.
25 through Dec. 24
Trees: You-cut and pre-cut Noble, Nordmann,
Douglas, Turkish and Grand firs. $20 to $40
Extras: Shaking and handsaws, hauling,
cutting and baling on request. Also,
complimentary hot beverages, cookies, firepit
and gift shop
Contact: 503-399-8203
Tree Kings
To get there: 7544 Jordan St. Salem; go east
on Highway 22, take Joseph Street Exit, turn
left on Joseph Street, left on 71st, right on
Jordan
Open: 8 a.m. till dark daily, Nov. 25 through
Dec. 20
Trees: Noble, Nordmann, Turkish, grand and
Douglas-firs, ranging from 2 to 12 feet,
starting at $15
Extras: Free candy canes and hot chocolate,
cutting assistance, baling, flocking and
shaking, and fresh-cut trees, wreaths and tree
stands for sale
Contact: (503) 881-8610
See FARMS, Page 3B