christmas tree

By Linda Weiford, WSU News PULLMAN, Wash. – Give your Christmas tree a good shake before carrying it indoors. If not, you’ll probably transport holiday hitchhikers straight into your living room.

By E. Kirsten Peters, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences PULLMAN, Wash. – I know we are still only in Advent. But at this point in December, my mind starts to turn toward Christmas. It just can’t be helped, especially in light of all the ads featuring Santa.

By Betsy Fradd, WSU Extension PUYALLUP, Wash. – Tucked within the massive Capitol Christmas Tree headed for Washington, D.C. are three tiny sensors most people will never see. They will collect information on how well the tree holds moisture during its 25-day journey from Washington state.

PULLMAN — For 35 years, the Capitol Christmas tree has been harvested from one of the 50 states and transported to Washington D.C. This year, Washington State is providing a majestic, picture-perfect, 45-year-old tree that will stand in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. during the holidays. Gary Chastagner, a scientist at […]

The Christmas tree tradition supports a sizeable industry in Washington, and Gary Chastagner, a scientist at the Puyallup Research and Extension Center, works to make sure both tradition and industry remain strong. Sudden oak death, an exotic plant disease with the potential to kill some species of large oak trees, is Chastagner’s main concern. “At […]

What makes an ideal Christmas tree? Most of us look for things like shape, fullness and good color, but Washington State University plant pathologist Gary Chastagner has some additional criteria. “For me, the ideal Christmas tree is one that’s relatively easy to grow in this region, has natural resistance to disease and pests, and has […]