MONTHLY PHOTOS

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SEASONAL TIPS

Don’t forget that Park City Nursery is open through Christmas Eve with a great selection of Freshly Cut Christmas Trees from Table Toppers to Twenty+ footers.

We also sell freshly made garland to order - by length and thickness. It is so beautiful.

Custom and unique wreaths and centerpieces to fit any budget.

We have, I think, Utah’s largest selection of Ribbon in one building!

A huge collection of Santa’s, ornaments, lights, etc.

See our Christmas Page!

Remember the meaning of the season. Don’t let stress get under your attitude.

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Colorado Spruce Blue or Green

Picea pungens ‘glauca’    Zone 2

Colorado Spruce has taken its share of negative publicity this year but. . . I think it still has its incredible merits. It is one of the easiest to establish evergreens - compared to Pines and Firs which have slightly over 50% survivability when planted even from quality nursery stock.

Spruce have a distinctive shape at elevation. They are much narrower than their ‘less stressed’ relatives at lower elevations. They do not normally achieve their full height potential either. They can range anywhere from 50-115' at maturity. They range in color from an incredible blue- blue-green to deep green and limey green. There are many hybrids which range from a globe shaped dwarf to a narrow, columnar variety getting about 15' tall to a ‘Fat Albert’.

During the winter Spruce provide excellent cover for birds and wildlife. They are Evergreen so they create nice privacy screens between neighbors and contrast color for your winter landscape.

When using Spruce as part of your design, it is good to companion plant them with Aspen, other deciduous trees and/or shrubs. The more protection they get from wind and other elements, the better they will perform.

Annual Fertilizing and some maintenance will ensure healthy trees. (See page 23-25 of High Altitude Planting for tips on Spruce Specific Problems).

In spite of recent drawbacks, Spruce are Hardy, drought tolerant and attractive. They are still the best choice for “evergreen” contrast in your mountain yard.
 

MONTHLY SPECIALS

FREE Christmas atmosphere at Park City Nursery. Enjoy the true spirit of the season. Sip on free hot spiced cider as you meander through the fresh smell of Christmas Trees in our Winter Wonderland. . . Make it a tradition.

Call (435) 649-1363 with any questions or - check in weekly to see for yourself!

Please add to our guest book and e-mail us at info@parkcitynursery.com

© 2002 Park City Nursery All Rights Reserved

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MONTHLY ARTICLE

Christmas Trees

the essence of Christmas

The smell of a fresh tree in your home brings the wonders of Christmas past to today. Your tree is the calm in your Holiday flurry. It stands waiting for the lights to be turned onto create the perfect atmosphere of winter magic ( even on a weekday!)

Choosing a Christmas Tree is a tradition. Some trek up into the Uintas to cut their own. Others go to a favorite local spot, sip hot spiced Cider and wander through a maze of fresh cut varieties.

There are several types of Christmas trees that can survive the Utah sun and stay fresh and green through the holiday.

Fraser Fir - Excellent needle retention; short, green/blue needles with a silvery underside. Lightly sheared, slightly open for showing off ornaments. Beautiful decorated.

Nordman Fir - Excellent needle retention. Longer, dark green/blue needles with a silvery underside. Fragrant. Lightly sheared-sheared, shapely. Beautiful decorating tree.

Concolor (White) Fir - Excellent needle retention. Medium, bluish/green needles. Fragrant. Natural shape with soft needles. Beautiful decorated.

Grand Fir - Good needle retention. Keep the water bowl full and it will last. Full, sheared shape with a flat, dark green needle, silvery underneath. The most fragrant of all varieties. Beautiful decorated.

White Pine - Good needle retention. Long, lacy green/blue needles. Sheared shape with spaces between branches. Fragrant. Beautiful decorated.

Noble Fir - Fair needle retention, susceptible to sunburn in bright, sunny rooms at elevation. Beautiful, full, nicely spaced branching, dark-green needles. A decorators dream.
Douglas Fir - Fair needle retention. Short, limey-green needles. Old fashioned shape. Fragrant. Beautiful decorated.

Scotch Pine - Excellent needle retention. Full, sheared shape with heavy branches. Long, bluish-green needles. Fragrant. Beautiful decorated.

Alpine Fir - Excellent needle retention. Short, dark-green needles with open branching pattern to show off ornaments. They grow native at higher elevations and are difficult to harvest in large quantities. A decorators dream.

LIVE Colorado Spruce - the best surviving live Christmas Tree. Live Christmas Trees have some special considerations. Mainly, they should only be in the house 4-5 days. Then they need to be stored outside. The best place is on the North side of the house with the pot insulated with snow to protect them from winter wind, cold temperatures, and temperature fluctuations.. Plant your live Christmas Tree in Spring as soon as the ground thaws enough to dig a hole and plant properly using soil amendments. Fertilize with root starter 3-4 times throughout the growing season and try to spray Wiltpruf® on it in the fall to protect needles from winter stress.

CARING FOR YOUR FRESH CUT CHRISTMAS TREE

If you follow a few simple rules, your Christmas Tree will stay fresher, longer.

1. When you get your tree, have a ‘fresh cut’ made on the bottom. Cut ¼” or more off the base and make several vertical cuts up the side.

2. Get your tree in water within 30 minutes of the fresh cut.

3. Use warm water in the bowl and, if you choose, you may want to put a preservative in at this time.

4. Don’t ever let your bowl go dry. If it does, the bottom of the tree will seal and the tree won’t drink any more water.

Some trees don’t drink as much because they have a higher moisture content to begin with. Other trees will take up gallons!

DECORATING YOUR TREE and YOUR HOME

It is a matter of personal choice and tradition. Some ideas are:

Theme Trees - gardening, angels, Santas, toys, fishing, nutcrackers, Victorian, vintage, candy, snow fruit, southwestern, western, birds, etc.
Traditional - Eclectic mix of ornaments from your life!
Color - Pick a color and go wild!
Fun textures - Ribbon - all kinds. Dried flowers, beaded garlands, popcorn and berry garland, natural twigs, branches, pinecone, honeysuckle garlands bird nests, etc. Go plastic, go recycled. . .

Anything you can dream up is acceptable. Try different lights for a change - add a strand of something unusual - Bubble lights, Pinecone lights, crystal prisms and stars, old-fashioned large bulbs, etc.

Have fun with it and most of all, don’t forget the spirit of Christmas. Enjoy your family and be thankful for the life you are given.