This is a busy time of the year. You may be shopping, baking and decorating. When you imagine a traditional fresh Christmas tree, you may find yourself humming your favorite holiday tune. Will this trigger memory?

Years ago, was your Christmas tree on a platform with Lionel train tracks and plastic village buildings? Maybe there are carefully laid gravel on the road. Maybe you attended a religious ceremony or concert or had breakfast with friends and family before heading to find the perfect tree.

Let's talk about that perfect tree. It is always a good idea to buy locally grown trees. It is ideal to select and cut it on the spot. There are many Christmas tree farms in Pennsylvania. No need to worry about losing trees. The forest farm will plant seedlings to replace the trees you fell. Growing trees reduce soil erosion, create habitats for wildlife and sequester carbon. It is not only good for the environment, but also helps support our local economy.

You might be worried about the scary spotted lantern fly. Conifers are not their preferred host; however, you can check the bark for egg masses and destroy them by crushing and putting them in a plastic bag containing alcohol or hand sanitizer.

Douglas fir has blue-green needles and is a popular choice, while Fraser fir has dark green needles with silver stripes on the underside and a spicy smell. The white/Scots pine tree has strong branches that can easily support heavy ornaments. You might like the scent of pine trees. Colorado blue spruce has beautiful blue-green silver needles. Please note that the needle is very sharp.

If it is allowed to dry out, any tree will drop its needles. Before you make your choice, pull the branches a bit to make sure the tree is not dry. You may shake it slightly to make sure that many green pins do not fall off.

Watering is very important. Before placing the tree on the support, cut off a 1/4 inch disk perpendicular to the trunk to promote water absorption. Make sure your stand can hold at least 1.5 gallons of water. This tree will absorb at most one gallon of water a day, so be sure to add water every day. Always keep trees away from heat sources or vents. No need to drill or use chemicals. LED lights are more suitable for decoration because they do not get hot.

When you cut down the tree, consider evergreen branches to provide a good cover for your perennial flower bed. You can place branches on the ground near the bird feeder to avoid predators. Don't forget to feed wild birds and make sure they are safe. happy Holidays!

Elizabeth Farrell is a volunteer master gardener promotion at Pennsylvania State University.

The spotted lantern fly is unlikely to lay eggs on a Christmas tree, even if the tree is from one of the infected counties. It is not known that this insect feeds on coniferous trees. You should check the trunk and branches for egg masses. If you find egg lumps, you can easily scrape them into a small plastic bag or container with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer and dispose of them. In order to completely eliminate your fear, know that the spotted lantern fly does not pose a threat to humans, pets or houses. If the eggs hatch in your house, the very small nymphs will die quickly.

Christmas tree growers in all states implement integrated pest management to ensure the health of their trees and keep pests away from your home. Growers in the quarantine area work with the state agriculture department to train employees and ensure that the spotted lantern fly does not hitchhiking on the Christmas tree. In general, the benefits of having a living tree outweigh any risks associated with pests. Buying real Christmas trees also benefits local growers and the local economy.

Current and comprehensive information on spotted lantern fly and management options is available at extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly.

Sign up for email newsletters