When it’s time to choose a Christmas tree, you don’t need to settle for just any tree – especially not a plastic one. Why not consider a real Fraser fir Christmas tree?

All About the Fraser Fir

Fraser fir or Abies fraseri is named after John Fraser (1750 – 1811), a Scottish botanist who traveled around the world to collect plant specimens. He discovered the Fraser fir while exploring the Appalachian Mountains and brought it to Britain.

The Fraser fir has a traditional Christmas tree-like pyramid shape. It has a distinctive blue-green color, with silver on the undersides of its needles. The Fraser fir’s branches are stiff and tilt slightly upwards, giving it a compact look.

Fraser firs grow naturally only in the southern Appalachian Mountains, at elevations over 3,000 feet. They are endangered in their natural habitat, so those who wish to have a Fraser fir Christmas tree should purchase one from a trusted farm rather than cut one down in the forest themselves. Be sure to choose a grower that abides by sustainable farming practices.

Fraser firs can grow up to 80 feet. However, most Fraser fir trees at Christmas tree farms are harvested when they are six to 10 feet tall. It takes approximately seven to 12 years for a Fraser fir to grow to this height.

In 2005, the Fraser Fir was named the official Christmas tree of North Carolina by the state’s General Assembly after a successful petition by middle school students. Today, the Fraser fir is one of the most popular natural Christmas trees in the U.S. and the U.K.

Read on for six reasons why a real Fraser Christmas tree is the best option for you and your family.

1. It Has a Wonderful Fragrance

Why settle for a plastic tree that smells of chemicals when you can have a fragrant, all-natural Fraser fir Christmas tree? The Fraser fir has a pleasing, woody aroma reminiscent of pine, with a top citrus note. It’s a comforting, nostalgic scent that truly speaks “Christmas time.” This is why “Fraser fir” is a popular scent for winter-themed candles.

In fact, some people love the fragrance of Fraser fir so much that they collect the needles to make potpourri. Another way to savor the scent of Fraser fir is to make balsam pillows. Fraser fir needle-stuffed balsam pillows not only smell great – they may also help repel mice and moths when placed in closets and cabinets.  

2. It Holds Ornaments Well

Fraser fir branches curve upwards and are very strong. They can easily hold even the heftiest of Christmas ornaments, so you won’t have to worry about your treasured heirloom pieces falling off.

The spaces between the branches allow you to incorporate bigger bulbs for even more decorating possibilities. Feel free to adorn your tree with as many lights, trinkets and baubles as your heart desires!

3. It Has Excellent Needle Retention

Tired of sweeping or vacuuming up needles every day after putting up your tree? Choose a Fraser fir. It boasts excellent needle retention. If you keep it well-watered, you can expect its needles to stay firmly only for five to six weeks.

4. It Lasts a Long Time

Fraser firs are one of the longest-lasting natural Christmas trees. With proper care, you can enjoy your Fraser fir Christmas tree for up to six weeks. This is quite a long time compared with other Christmas tree species. For instance, spruce stays fresh for two weeks, while Scotch pine lasts up to three weeks.

5. It Holds Its Shape During Travel

Have you ever experienced choosing a tree at a farm, having it cut down and taking it home only to discover that its branches have gotten bent during the ride? This won’t happen if you choose a Fraser fir.

As discussed previously, Fraser fir trees have excellent needle retention and strong, firm branches. Because of these qualities, they can hold their shape no matter how far they travel.

6. It’s Non-Toxic to Pets

If you have dogs or cats at home, you might wonder if Fraser firs are safe for pets. You would be happy to know that Fraser fir is non-toxic to animals. Remember, though, that the same cannot be said for many other plants used as holiday decorations, such as mistletoe, lilies and holly. So, when you decorate your Fraser fir for Christmas, avoid using these plants to keep your pets safe.

Caring for Your Real Fraser Fir Christmas Tree

Fraser fir Christmas trees are already long-lasting, but you can help them stay fresh for longer by following these tips:

Choose a Fresh Tree

The surest way you can get a fresh Fraser fir Christmas tree is to cut it yourself at a trusted tree farm near you or have it delivered. If, for some reason, you can’t immediately put your tree up when you get it home, keep it outside. Put it in a cool and shady spot, with the cut end in a bucket of water.

Water It Regularly

For your real Fraser fir Christmas tree to stay fresh for up to six weeks, ensure it gets plenty of moisture. When you first take your Fraser fir tree home, saw off .5 to one inch from the bottom of the trunk. This is because the stump begins to dry out when the tree is cut at the farm. Resin can end up blocking the pores that absorb water.

Once done, place it in a water-holding tree stand. Avoid using any additives to help preserve the tree, like aspirin or bleach. All you need is tap water. Keep the water level to about five quarts daily.

Your Trusted Source of Healthy Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

When the holidays arrive, and it’s time to get a tree, turn to Trees for Tuition. We are a one-stop shop for everything related to Christmas trees in Atlanta. Our services include:

• Full-Service Christmas Tree Lots: There is no need to lift a finger (or an axe). Simply pick out your tree, and our team will do the rest! What’s more, we offer our trees at competitive prices.
• Christmas Tree Delivery: Save time by ordering a Fraser fir Christmas tree online and having it delivered to your doorstep.
• Christmas Tree Installation: Choose a date and time, and our team will deliver a freshly cut Fraser fir tree to your home. We will unload it, secure it in your tree stand and place it anywhere you like.
• Christmas Tree Recycling: When the holiday festivities are over and it’s time to recycle your tree, we’re the ones to call. All the trees we remove from our customers’ homes are recycled through the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation.

Beyond providing our customers with beautiful, all-natural Christmas trees, in our shop, we also help provide well-paying jobs to Atlanta college students, helping them cover their tuition and other school expenses. Hence our name – Trees for Tuition!

To learn more about us, feel free to get in touch.

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You’re not fake. So why is your Christmas tree?

20+ Years

That’s how long you’d need to use your fake Christmas tree for it to be more sustainable than buying a real Christmas tree each year. But how long does the average consumer use their Artificial tree? Just 6 years. The average carbon emissions of purchasing a live Christmas tree each season is just one-third that of using a fake tree for 6 years. That’s like choosing between eating 3 plastic bags every year or eating just one. I mean I don’t want to eat plastic bags at all but if I had to choose is it even a choice? This 20-year number isn’t just based on carbon emissions. The use of resources and human health impacts play a role as well.

How it’s Made:

Real Christmas Trees

You might not realize it but that 7ft Christmas tree in your living room didn’t just pop up overnight. It can actually take up to 15 years to grow a 6-7ft Christmas tree! That’s 15 years of producing oxygen, providing animal habitats, and employing local farmers. At any given time 350 million real live Christmas trees are being grown on American soil. All are being maintained by local US farmers.

Artificial Christmas Trees

On the other hand, 80% of fake Christmas trees are produced in China. Of these Artificial trees, 10 million are shipped and purchased in the US each year. This adds unnecessary carbon emissions to the atmosphere and uses human and environmental resources to create more plastic. To top it all off the plastics used to make these trees often contain polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which produces carcinogens during both production and disposal. 

Carbon Eaters

Around 30 million Christmas trees are cut and sold in the US each year. Many consumers believe by buying a fake tree they are saving a real Christmas tree from being cut down. That’s like buying fake apples to keep real ones from being picked. Like apples, Christmas trees are grown as a crop designed to be harvested and RE-PLANTED. What did we learn about plants in grade school? They eat carbon and they emit oxygen. What is there currently too much of in our atmosphere? Carbon. 2-3 Christmas trees are planted each year for every real Christmas tree that is sold. That’s 3 real live carbon-eating, oxygen-producing, greenhouse-fighting trees helping make our air a little cleaner. At Trees for Tuition, we take it a step further with our Tree for a Tree program. Every time we sell a Christmas tree we plant a forever tree. Not a crop but a tree that is designed to never be cut down.

Carbon Seepers

Plastic production is one of the most carbon-intensive industries on the planet. What do artificial trees happen to be made out of? Plastic. So, before these fake trees are even shipped overseas they have already started seeping carbon into our atmosphere. I think you already know that shipping anything requires carbon emissions. That means we also know that the longer the shipping distance the more carbon is emitted. Which is further, China to Atlanta or North Carolina to Atlanta?

Biodegradable & Recyclable

There are over 4000 local Christmas tree recycling programs throughout the US. You can see some Christmas tree recycling options in Atlanta on our tree recycling page, including our own service. Being organic matter that is grown in the ground not manufactured in a lab, real Christmas trees are both biodegradable and recyclable. Artificial trees on the other hand are next to impossible to recycle and certainly not biodegradable. So even if you manage to use your fake tree for 20, or even just 10 years, it will ultimately end up in the landfill. On the other hand real Christmas trees recycled in Atlanta end up being used in parks and public spaces. Would you rather your holiday centerpiece end up at the dump or in your local park?

Christmas Tree Price

This might be the only long-term category where artificial trees beat real Christmas trees. Over time you are going to spend more money by buying a live Christmas tree each year. But you get what you pay for right? Would you rather save a couple of bucks or help keep our environment a little bit cleaner over the long haul? For us, we choose the environment and that’s why at Trees for Tuition we believe keeping it real is than bein’ fake regardless of price. We hope to plant 2,000 forever trees in 2022. Make your tree more than just a tree this year. Make it a Trees for Tuition tree.

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Recycling Your Christmas Tree

Santa has come and gone, all the presents have been opened and it’s nearly New Year’s day. Now what to do with your real Christmas Tree? There are quite a few options actually, but let’s talk about what not to do first. Do not put your tree in your trash or recycling bin and please don’t wrap it in a plastic “tree bag” either! When your tree is thrown in the trash bin it’ll end up in the landfill adding to an already growing problem. If you also put your tree in a plastic bag this is even worse. Your once biodegradable tree is now wrapped in a non-biodegradable barrier! Instead, let us help you recycle your real live Christmas tree the right way.

Christmas Tree Removal Service

Okay so now that we know what not to do let’s look at some Christmas tree recycling options. Option #1: Use us! If you want your tree recycling done timely but don’t want to lug it to the recycling center yourself then we are here to help. When you use TFT to recycle your tree you’ll be able to easily schedule your recycling day on our website starting as early as Dec 26th. Watch that tree disappear like magic! You’ll just need to undecorate your tree and leave it in your front yard or doorstep by 10 am for us to pick up. Or if you selected In Home Tree Removal we will remove your undecorateed tree from inside your house for you! We then recycle your tree through the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. Christmas trees are chipped and turned into mulch to be used in Georgia parks and public spaces! Remember, tree removal is included with every Christmas tree stand rental.

Tree Recycling Option #2

Load that tree up and take it to the closest Bring one for the chipper event near you! A full list of site locations can be found here on the Keep Georgia Beautiful website. Remember, before you take your tree, remove all inorganic items from its branches. This means lights, ornaments, stands and if you have a flocked Christmas tree it’s unfortunately not recyclable!

Tree Recycling Option #3

Toss it in the lake! Real Christmas trees make fabulous habitats for fish and other aquatic creatures! Many lakes encourage people to sink Christmas trees in their waters for this very reason. Some however may not look so fondly on the act and may consider it dumping or littering. MAKE SURE to do your research before you add your Christmas tree to the bottom of any lake or body of water. You don’t want to start the New Year off with a dumping ticket! Do not toss flocked trees in lakes. Flocked trees are covered in chemicals the fishies don’t like.🐟

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