Comments on: Gardening Basics: Getting the Most Out of a Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree http://blog.behnkes.com/simply-put-getting-the-most-out-of-a-fresh-cut-christmas-tree.html Known For Quality Plants Since 1930 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:08:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Larry Hurley http://blog.behnkes.com/simply-put-getting-the-most-out-of-a-fresh-cut-christmas-tree.html/comment-page-1#comment-1842 Larry Hurley Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:28:14 +0000 http://blog.behnkes.com/?p=901#comment-1842 Ah, good question. Anyone that knows me would tell you that when it comes to questions about tools, I'm not of much use. Best shovel to lean on, that sort of thing. As I understand it, using machetes to shear Christmas trees has given way to (probably gas powered) hedge trimmers. The pruning I was talking about with the machetes was back in the early 1960's. My wife said it was "just a machete." This was before OSHA, which I imagine looked somewhat dimly on teens whacking away at trees with machetes. You might drop your question to the National Christmas Tree Association, info@realchristmastrees.org They have a blog where they do Q and A. It would be interesting to see what they have to say on the whole shearing thing; maybe they have some suggestions on the best manual tool to use. Larry Hurley Ah, good question. Anyone that knows me would tell you that when it comes to questions about tools, I’m not of much use. Best shovel to lean on, that sort of thing.

As I understand it, using machetes to shear Christmas trees has given way to (probably gas powered) hedge trimmers. The pruning I was talking about with the machetes was back in the early 1960′s. My wife said it was “just a machete.” This was before OSHA, which I imagine looked somewhat dimly on teens whacking away at trees with machetes.

You might drop your question to the National Christmas Tree Association, info@realchristmastrees.org

They have a blog where they do Q and A. It would be interesting to see what they have to say on the whole shearing thing; maybe they have some suggestions on the best manual tool to use.

Larry Hurley

]]> By: jjtraveler70 http://blog.behnkes.com/simply-put-getting-the-most-out-of-a-fresh-cut-christmas-tree.html/comment-page-1#comment-1810 jjtraveler70 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:50:50 +0000 http://blog.behnkes.com/?p=901#comment-1810 Out of curiosity, what type of machete is ideal for trimming christmas trees-see link for some styles? I imagine <a href="http://www.machetespecialists.com/mabyst.html" rel="nofollow">machetes</a> with a long thin blade since the vegetation being trimmed is green and non-woody. Out of curiosity, what type of machete is ideal for trimming christmas trees-see link for some styles? I imagine machetes with a long thin blade since the vegetation being trimmed is green and non-woody.

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