There is nothing quite like the signature fragrance of a fresh cut Christmas tree around the holidays.  All of the trees at Wallace's are plantation grown Fraser fir trees.  The Fraser fir is known for its naturally straight trunk, long needle retention and gorgeous dark green needles with silver backing. 

Here are a few tips for choosing and caring for your family tree:

• Before picking out your tree, measure the space you intend it to stand in.  Make sure you measure the diameter as well as the height of the ceiling
• Keep in mind that the branches of the tree will fall as it warms up inside your house. 
• Make sure you have an adequate stand to hold the size of tree that you want.  Wallace's recommends Cinco Stands.  They are the sturdiest and also hold plenty of water.  Wallace's will mount your tree in a Cinco stand every year at no charge.
• Once you get the tree home, make a fresh cut (Wallaces staff is happy to do this for you).  The fresh cut should take at least 1" off the bottom of the tree.  This removes the sap plug and allows the tree to take up water.
• Once the fresh cut is made, you have about 2 hours to get the tree into a stand with water.  Use warm, not hot, water and check it frequently over the first 24 hours to make sure the tree doesn't go dry.
• Be sure your stand will hold enough water.  You'll need about one quart per inch of trunk diameter, daily;  (a 2" trunk will take ½ gallon of water per day) .
• Display your tree in a cooler part of your room and try to keep it away from heat sources like furnace vents, fire places or direct sunlight from windows.
• Christmas tree water additives like Prolong work great and are recommended for trees that will be up for 3 weeks or more.

For decades the red and green colors of the poinsettia have been synonymous with the holiday season.  The story of how it got to this status is part of this plants unique history.  The poinsettia is native to Central America and flourished in Southern Mexico where the ancient Aztecs used this winter blooming plant for practical and medicinal uses.  People in the U.S. were unaware of this plant until the son of a French physician was appointed by President James Madison as the first United States ambassador to Mexico.  That man was Joel Roberts Poinsett.  He brought the plant back to his South Carolina hot houses and began propagating it.  Poinsett is also known for founding the Smithsonian Institution.

Today, poinsettias are a greatly used holiday decoration and gift.  Here are a few tips for taking care of your poinsettia. 

1. The poinsettia thrives on indirect, natural daylight.  Exposure to at least six hours daily is recommended.  It direct sun cannot be avoided, diffuse light with a sheer curtain.
2. To prolong the bright color of the bracts (the red part), daytime temperatures should not exceed 70 degrees F. 
3. Avoid placing near drafts, excess heat or dry air.
4. Poinsettias require moderately moist soil.  Water thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to the touch.  Do not allow to sit in standing water. It is not necessary to fertilize poinsettias.
5. Poinsettias are not poisonous.  Toxicity of poinsettias is a common and persistent myth that is not true.  A 50 lb. child would have to ingest 1.25 lbs. (about 500-600) leaves) to exceed experimental doses recommended by POISINDEX, the resource used by the Poison Control Center. 

Change out those holiday Lights.  Replace all your traditional holiday lights with LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights.  Available at Wallace's, these lights use 80-90% less energy.

If everyone replaced their holiday lights with LED's, it would save two billion kilowatt hours of electricity in one month.  This is enough energy to power 200,000 homes for one year.

Going Green Bonus- LED's release little heat, making them safer.  Also, LED lights last up to 200,000 hours.  All LED's are UL approved for indoor/outdoor use.

20% off
*Home and holiday decor

*Silks, florals and garden accents

*Pottery, bird baths and gifts for the gardener

Free Christmas Tree Delivery to Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island!