HOW-TO
Real, Fresh-Cut Christmas Trees
Christmas tree sales begin the day before Thanksgiving: Wednesday, November 25th. We will change to our Holiday hours on Friday, November 27th, where we will be open seven days a week, from 10 AM until 6 PM through Christmas. Follow us on Facebook for daily posts, Holiday gift ideas, and other fun announcements!
Environmental Benefits
Real Christmas Trees: The Best Choice
Each holiday season, shoppers find themselves confronted with a choice: celebrate with a fresh, real tree, or one that is artificial plastic or aluminum. What most people don’t realize is that the best choice has always been the traditional and natural choice — a Real Christmas Tree.
Real Christmas Trees Benefit the Environment
While they’re growing, Real Christmas Trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases and emitting fresh oxygen. The farms that grow Christmas Trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas Trees are grown on soil that doesn’t support other crops.
Real Christmas Trees Are Renewable
Real Christmas Trees are grown on farms just like any other agricultural crop. To ensure a constant supply, Christmas Tree growers plant one to three new seedlings for every tree they harvest. On the other hand, artificial trees are a petroleum-based product manufactured primarily in Chinese factories. The average family uses an artificial tree for only six to nine years before throwing it away, where it will remain in a landfill for centuries after disposal.
Real Christmas Trees Are Recyclable
Real Christmas Trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes.
Real Christmas Trees Help Preserve Green Spaces
Real Christmas Trees are often grown on soil that does not support other crops.
TYPES OF TREES AVAILABLE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AT FALLING WATER GARDENS
Nordmann Fir – Nordmann fir trees are the fancier looking trees with branches that grow upward. They have a naturally flocked look, with unique-looking needles that have a glossy dark upper-side and a silvery underside. The needles last longer than the Noble Fir tree. Mild fragrance suited for people with allergies.
Noble Fir – Dense, sturdy, fragrant, and symmetrical. Nobles are one of the most popular varieties. Have a deep bluish-green color. The needles are long and four-sided, twisting upward.
Grand Fir – Very weak limbs that may not be able to hold heavier ornaments. Super fragrant. The needles are a beautiful dark green, flat and glossy.
CARE FOR YOUR TREE
We want to make sure you get the most out of your Christmas tree this year. To avoid losing large amounts of needles and ensuring your tree to last you through the holiday season, we recommend you follow these steps:
ESSENTIALS:
- Water your tree regularly.
- Keep your tree away from open flames and heat sources, preferably in a cool room. Under-floor heating will dry out the needles much quicker so try to avoid setting it up in an overly warm space.
- Cover the floor or table area where you place your tree to protect against water spills.
- Wear garden gloves when handling your Christmas tree as the needles can cause a mild allergic reaction and rash on sensitive skin.
SETTING UP YOUR TREE:
- Keep your Christmas tree outside in a sheltered area, preferably standing in water, until you are ready to bring it indoors and set it up. At Falling Water Gardens, we cut the Washington-grown trees upon arrival and place them upright in water.
- No need to re-cut trees at Falling Water Gardens because we do it as soon as they arrive at the nursery. If you still feel it is necessary to have a fresh cut, prepare the base of your tree using a handsaw. Cut about a half inch to an inch off the bottom to aid water absorption.
- Don’t cut the base at an angle, in a V-shape. None of these methods help water absorption and they may make it more difficult to hold the tree safely in a stand.
- Mount your tree as soon as possible.
- Allow the branches to settle for a few hours before decorating.
- Tree stands come in different shapes and sizes. You never want your tree to dry out, so the stand needs to have water in it at all times. Water regularly.
- Make sure your tree is straight before you start decorating it. It’s a good idea for at least two people to put up your tree; one holding it stable while the other fixes the base.
- Check the water level in your stand every other day and keep topped up.
Are you tired of buying generic Christmas ornaments each year? Looking to having statement pieces that have more sentimental value? Visit the gift shop for a festive and fun selection of ornaments and other holiday decor that you will enjoy for many years to come.
LED Pond & Garden Lighting
With the busy lifestyles we all lead, it can be challenging to find the time to enjoy the pond or garden during the day. Sometimes the only time you have to catch your breath in a day is in the evening, after the sun goes down.
If you’ve invested in a garden or koi pond, then you need to make sure that you are highlighting it in the best ways possible. Adding LED lighting to your outdoor landscape will make such a difference!
Keep the lights on and your costs down with new LED energy efficient pond lights. Add a whole new dimension to your pond or garden and bring it to life!
We are proud to carry PondMax for our LED pond & garden lighting options.
Benefits of LED lighting:
- Longer lifespan
- The average LED lasts 50,000 operating hours to 100,000 operating hours or more.
- Energy-efficient
- They have a longer lifespan than halogens and are more friendly for the environment.
- LED lighting in water
- Factory sealed and fully submersible. Great for waterfalls or water fountains.
- LED lighting out of water
- Highlight your favorite plants in the garden or back-light aquatic plants next to the pond.
- Tough and durable
- They are extremely durable and designed to be used in hot and cold temperatures.
- Increase pond safety
- Lower risk of people falling in.
Options Available at Falling Water Gardens:
Fountain & Waterfall Warm White LED Add-On Light
This small and compact soft warm white light requires only 2.8 watts of power. Comes complete with a base for use in or out of your fountain or waterfall. Transformer not included.
FEATURES
- 9Ft Low Voltage Cable
- Ultra Bright & Energy Saving
Fountain & Waterfall 3-Light Kit
Amazing LED technology in an incredibly compact light. Ideal for up-lighting water features where space is limited. This soft warm white light only requires 2.8 watts of power per light and comes with a transformer . Comes complete with stabilizing base for use in or out of your fountain or waterfall.
FEATURES
- 18-Watt Trasnsformer
- Ultra Bright & Energy Saving
Large Warm White LED Starter Light
Combining the latest LED design with high quality glass reinforced plastic, this light is ultimate for any pond and garden owner. This soft warm white light outputs only 5.3 watts of power. Comes complete with weighted base and garden spike for use in or out of your pond. Transformer not included.
FEATURES
- Energy Efficient/Low Wattage
- For Use In Or Out Of Water
Large Warm White LED Add-On Light
Combining the latest LED design with high quality glass reinforced plastic, this light is ultimate for any pond and garden owner. This Warm White light outputs only 5.3 Watts of power. To daisy chain these lights, use the “Add-On Light.” Comes complete with weighted base and garden spike. Transformer not included.
FEATURES
- Energy Efficient/Low Wattage
- For Use In Or Out Of Water
Small Color Changing LED Add-On Light
New generation remote controllable multi-color Add-On lights, make adding additional lights simple. Comes complete with weighted base and garden spike for use in or out of your pond. Transformer and remote not included.
FEATURES
- Super Energy Efficient/Low Wattage
- For Use In Or Out Of Water
Small Color Changing LED Complete Light Kit
Use these new generation remote controllable multi-color lighting to brighten up your pond or garden! This light system offers an easy to use multi-color and multi-functional remote control, which can operate up to 8-single colors or a series of flashing or changing modes up to 30 Ft. from the control box. To daisy chain these lights, use the light offered without a remote (Add-On). Comes complete with weighted base, garden spike and transformer for plug-and-play use in or out of your pond.
FEATURES
- 12 Volt Transformer
- Energy Efficient/Low Wattage
- For Use In Or Out Of Water
Small Color Changing LED Starter Light
New generation remote controllable multi-color lighting to brighten up your pond or garden. The remote controller offers an easy to use multi-color and multi-functional remote control, which can operate the light from up to 30Ft from the control box. You can have up to 8-single colors or a series of flashing or changing modes. To daisy chain these lights, use the light offered without a remote (Add-On). Comes complete with weighted base and garden spike for use in or out of your pond. Transformer not included.
FEATURES
- Super Energy Efficient/Low Wattage
- For Use In Or Out Of Water
Large Color Changing LED Starter Light
New generation remote controllable multi-color lighting to brighten up your pond or garden. The RF Remote Control Box offers an easy to use 8 Color multi-function remote control which can operate the light from up to 30 Ft. from the control box. The RF Control Box is needed to operate lights.You can have up to 8-single colors or a series of flashing or changing modes. To daisy chain these lights, use the light offered without a remote (Add-On). Comes complete with weighted base and garden spike for use in or out of your pond. Transformer not included.
FEATURES
- Energy Efficient/Low Wattage
- For Use In Or Out Of Water
F.A.Q. – Should I be feeding my fish?
Answer:
Fish are cold blooded animals. This means they do not generate their own body heat and their body temperature is reliant on their environment, the water temperature of your pond.
When the water temperature is cold, below the mid 50’s, your fish conserve energy by hanging out at the bottom of the pond, where the water is warmest. At this temperature your fish cannot generate the enzymes necessary to digest food and they live off the fat they stored on their body all summer.
Between 55 and 65 degrees, it is safe to feed cool season food. Cool season food has less protein and is easier for your fish to digest in cool temperatures.
Above 65 degrees your fish are much more active and you should feed your fish a high protein food.
A warm winter where the water hovers around 50ºF to 55ºF can be a problem for fish owners. Our fish are more active than usual and seem to be asking to be fed. There are two potential problems with feeding your fish at this temperature.
As previously mentioned, if you feed your fish and the temperature drops below the mid 50’s, your fish are most likely unable to create the enzymes necessary to digest the food. The food can putrefy in their intestinal track, creating bacteria that can get in their blood and kill your fish.
A secondary problem is that at low temperatures, your biological filter will not be active and able to cope with increased ammonia levels associated with feeding the fish. You can kill your fish if the ammonia levels rise too high.
Koi and goldfish are omnivores and can usually find enough to eat at the beginning of the season. If they are hungry they can eat the algae growing in the pond that is easier to digest than fish food.
Our suggestion to fish owners is always the same; when the water temperature is hovering in the mid to low 50’s and there is a chance that we can get freezing weather that can drop the water temperature below the mid 50’s, it is best to not feed the fish. Just to be on the safe side!
** We are no longer feeding our fish. **
Have more questions? Fill out our contact form or email us at info@fallingwaterdesigns.com
