Are you looking for the perfect Christmas Tree on Long Island, New York? Selecting the tree for the Holidays is always a family event. Most families have a favorite type of tree and everyone looks for a healthy, filled out tree with a nice shape. So, grab your winter gloves, ropes, warm coat and look for a Long Island farm that are open and ready for business and have a wide selection of Christmas trees. It is always wise to call ahead to be sure inclement weather or the stock has not depleted - especially if you are looking for a tree more than eight feet tall. Types and varieties of Holiday Christmas trees include cedars such as Deodar Cedar, Eastern Red Cedar; cypresses such as Leyland Cypress; firs such as Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Grand Fir, Noble Fir, Nordmann Fir, White Fir (Concolor Fir); pines such as Afghan Pine, Austrian Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Red Pine, Scotch Pine, Virginia Pine, White Pine and spruces such as Black Hills Spruce, Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Carolina Sapphire.

Don't buy a tree that is losing green needles, or has dry, brittle twigs or a sour, musty smell. Excessive needle loss can be detected by vigorously shaking the tree, or dropping it onto the end of the trunk several times from a height of about 1 foot. The loss of old dead needles from the inside of the tree does not indicate that there is a problem with the tree. Mechanical shakers can remove these needles, and reduce the potential for a mess inside the home.

Do not buy a tree that is too large for the area where it will be displayed. Aside from paying more than necessary, up to $10.00 per foot of height, you will have to cut off a large section of the lower trunk, and possibly the lower whorl of branches. This might ruin the appearance of the lower part of the tree.

Note the location of large branches at the bottom of the tree. Be sure that the handle is long enough to allow display of the tree without cutting off the lower whorl of large branches. USDA grading rules specify trees should have a handle 1 to 12 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm) long per ft (30 cm) of height. However, some species are routinely sold without pruned handles, Fraser fir.

When purchasing a tree from a choose-n-cut farm, have the producer mechanically shake the tree, if possible. This will eliminate dead, loose needles, especially in species such as Virginia pine, white pine, Scotch pine and red cedar. There is less potential mess to reach the home.

The Deodar Cedar is native to Himalayas with needle-like leaves mostly 0.9"-1.9" long slender borne singly on long shoots and in dense clusters of 20-30 on short shoots. Its color varies from bright green to glaucous blue-green.

The Eastern Red Cedar is a species of juniper native to eastern North America with two types of leaves: Sharp, spreading needle-like juvenile leaves 2"-3.9" long and tightly adpressed scale-like adult leaves 0.079" - 0.16" long; they are arranged in opposite decussate pairs or occasionally whorls of three. It has good scent but can dry out quickly.

The Leyland Cypress is a fast-growing coniferous evergreen tree with upright branches and a feathery appearance. It is the most popular Christmas tree in the South-East with little aroma. Because it is not in the Pine or Fir family, the Leyland Cypress does not produce sap so those with allergy to sap can still enjoy it as their Christmas Tree.

The Balsam Fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States. It has 1"-1.5" long, flat long lasting needles that are rounded at the tip. It has a rich dark green color with silvery cast and is very fragrant.

The Canaan Fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States with 1" long flat needle-like leaves that are dark green above often with a small patch of stomata near the tip, two white stomatal bands below and a slightly notched tip.

The Douglas Fir has a conical shape and about 1" long needles with a blunt tip. Green on top with 2 white bands below. It has an enticing aroma.

Fraser Fir is a species of fir native to the mountains of the eastern United States with pyramid-shaped strong branches and 1/5 - 1" long dark green flattened needles with silvery tone underneath. It has good needle retention and a nice scent.

The Grand Fir is native to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California of North America with shiny, dark green needles 1" - 1.5" long.

The Noble Fir is native to the West Coast and has short, stiff branches and 1" long bluish-green needles with a silvery appearance. The noble fir is Very aromatic and has long keep ability. Its stiff branches make it a good tree for heavy ornaments.

A widely planted evergreen tree native to Greece, Turkey and the Caucasus with soft glossy dark green needles and erect, reddish-brown cones. It has symmetrically arranged strong branches perfect for holding large or heavy ornaments.

White Fir is a fir native to the mountains of western North America with blue-green needles around 1/2 inches long. It has nice shape, citrus scentand good needle retention.

The Afghan Pine has upright or pyramidal, dense form with soft, short needles 5"-6" long with sturdy branches. It has mild fragrance and requires some needle clean-up.

The Austrian Pine is a moderately variable species of pine with dark green needles, 4"-6" inches long. It retains needles well and has moderate fragrance.

The Red Pine is a coniferous evergreen tree characterized by tall, straight growth in a variety of habitats with dark green needles 4"-6" long.

The Ponderosa Pine is a very large pine tree of variable habit native to western North America with needles 5"-10" long. It has good needle retention.

The Scotch Pine is probably the most common Christmas tree a hardy species with dark green foliage and stiff branches well suited for decorating with both light and heavy ornaments. It has excellent needle retention characteristics and holds up well throughout harvest, shipping and display.

The Virginia Pine is a medium-sized evergreen tree with strong aromatic pine scent and dark green needles 1 1/3" – 3" long. Its sturdy branches enable it to hold heavy ornaments.

The White Pine is a large evergreen tree with clustered soft blue-green needles native to eastern North America.

The Black Hills Spruce is an ornamental evergreen with a dense, conical in shape and bright green to bluish needles. Slow growing.

A beautiful silver blue-green spruce with blue-green 3/4" - 1 1/4" needles rated one of the most popular evergreens.

The Norway Spruce is an evergreen conifer, found throughout all of Ohio and much of the United States. It is the fastest growing of the spruces with strong graceful branches that are covered with dark green needles 0.5" - 1 "long.

The White spruce is a medium-sized conifer with cone-shaped crown found in northeastern United States and throughout Canada. Its green to bluish-green needles are 1/5 - 3/4 inch long, short and stiff.

The Carolina Sapphire or Arizona Cypress is a conical tree with a pyramidal growing conifer and a great silvery blue colored foliage that is very aromatic. Grows slightly taller and much faster than Blue Ice; makes a great privacy screen or wind barrier.