Today, most Christmas trees are grown on farms as a crop rather than being harvested from forests. Sometimes, however, trees are harvested from natural forest stands. Ponderosa pine may be harvested from crowded natural stands in the Black Hills. This harvesting gives the remaining trees more space and encourages better growth. Picking out the Tree Not all Christmas trees are the same.
Some species retain their needles longer than other species.
For a list of the characteristics of the most common Christmas trees and how to identify the trees, see Extension Extra 6013, Christmas Tree Selection. The secret of having a long-lasting tree begins with buying fresh. Christmas trees begin losing moisture as soon as they are cut. If you are shopping at a retail stand, look for trees that have been properly stored . Cut trees maintain their freshness best if stored in a cool, shaded area.