R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press A customer who said he’s been buying from the Sargent Evergreen lot outside Elmer’s for 20 years admires the Christmas tree he’s just purchased from Steve Sturdy.

ESCANABA — Those yet to select a Christmas tree for their home have just two weekends left before the holiday, but the choices ahead of them are exciting, say advocates and vendors in the real tree business. There are opportunities for adventures in the woods. Folks hunting at tree farms and lots are likely to find numerous varieties to choose from, each with their own unique look and characteristics.

People are drawn to what they know, and Michigan Christmas Tree Association Executive Director Amy Start said that when it comes to selecting trees for the home, it’s easy for people to follow the pattern they grew up with.

“And a lot of times, people that grew up with an artificial, that’s what they tend to go to, but when they do try a real one, they usually say, ‘I don’t know why we didn’t do this sooner.'”

She said a increase in sales of real trees began during COVID, when “one of the only things people could do was go to a Christmas tree farm. Talk about socially distant, you know? And since then, we’ve seen so many people coming back because they love the experience.”

For those who are already familiar with the joys of real trees and intend to continue the tradition, the Michigan Christmas Tree Association encourages them to branch out and try a species they haven’t had before.

“What’s great about Michigan — we have so many different tree species that you can select,” Start said. “It’s fun to try something new. You know, if you’ve never had a concolor, which smells like oranges, that’s kind of different.”

Concolors have been quickly gaining in popularity, but not surpassing Fraser fir, which is still the number one choice and has been for several years. Meanwhile, Scotch pine was very popular in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, thereby lending a nostalgic vibe to households bringing them in now.

The cool hue of the appropriately-named blue spruce is favored by many, but the species has another trait that might turn people one way or another — the needles are especially sharp and pokey. This means it’s best to wear gloves while decorating, but it also deters cats who are inclined to climb other trees.

“I get a balsam in my house because balsams have really stiff branches, they smell nice, and they last,” said Steve Sturdy, who sells trees in Escanaba for Sargent Evergreen, an Upper Peninsula business that sources Christmas trees from a number of area farms.

White pines have long, soft needles that appeal to some but not others — “it looks like an animal,” muttered one man looking over a white pine offered at a lot.

Sturdy described Fraser and Canaan firs as being the “Cadillacs of trees.” He prefers Canaan, as they look more like a balsam. On Frasers, he said, “the branches grow all kittywampus.”

Korean firs are more unusual, but according to Start, their unique look is enjoyed by those who choose them.

Branches of a Norway spruce angle upwards. They are known to drop needles quickly and may be a good tree to grab late in the season.

“You’re not gonna go wrong in Michigan,” Start said. “Try something new is what I always recommend. It’s fun, it’s different — That’s the beauty of a real Christmas tree compared to an artificial tree.”

If all the options at farms and lots overwhelm, the U.S. Forest Service sells permits to cut Christmas trees from Hiawatha National Forest with restrictions. People are allowed to take balsam and spruce trees only (no pine). They may not be harvested from Wilderness Areas, Research Natural Areas, Recreation Residences, active timber sales, areas that have been recently planted, near campgrounds or within 100 feet of lakes or rivers.

Whether or not someone on the prowl has a type of tree in mind, they should go armed with a measuring tape — after taking a key step at home.

The first thing to do, said Start, is to measure the space for which the tree is intended. It’s all too difficult to misjudge the size of a tree outdoors — whether in a tree lot, on a farm or in the forest — so it’s wise to measure the diameter or circumference as well as the height.

“Sometimes they look maybe not as big out there, you know? And so then you cut it, and then you have one of those, like, Chevy Chase moments.”

Certainly, everyone has preferences when it comes to a tree’s appearance, and that goes not just for the shape and arrangement of its branches but also the decorations. Start advises tree-shoppers to consider the weight, size and quantity of their ornaments, and to test the strength of a tree’s branches to make sure it is compatible with the vision.

Another major consideration is needle retention. Start suggests running a hand through the branches to make sure a shower of needles doesn’t fall upon being touched. Especially with a pre-cut tree, this can help ensure the tree is fresh and heathy enough to last through the holiday.

Sturdy said that one of the biggest mistakes people can make is to only check the water level the first day, see that the tree hasn’t drank much, and fail to top off the water when the plant needs it the most. He likened the state of a cut tree outdoors to being “dormant.” It doesn’t need or seek moisture in the cold, but once brought into a warm house —

“Then it thinks it’s summertime, so it needs water. And if it runs out of water and thinks it’s in a drought, it’ll drop needles like crazy,” Sturdy said.

Households with pets should take extra care to mind the water levels, as animals often like to drink from the basin.

Getting to that drought-like stage for a cut tree seems to be a point of no return. Start said to make conscious efforts to water it regularly, especially for the first week, hanging a reminder somewhere in the house if you need to.

“It’s so bad for the tree if you just let it dry out,” she said, adding that trying to give a tree water too late is an exercise in futility: “The sap already forms a barrier, and it won’t suck (the water) up.”

Start pointed out that buying a real Christmas tree stimulates Michigan. Whether money goes to a farmer or the forest service, the support is local.

“The best part about it is the smell,” Start added. You can’t duplicate it, and that candle or a spray — it’s not the same.”