Perfect Christmas tree the goal of researchers.(House-Home)

Byline: NANCY O'DONNELL Special to the Times Union

Christmas trees are the most recognizable and traditional symbols of the holiday season. Whether you decorate yours with ornaments collected through the years or a following special theme, hang the big, old-fashioned lights or the miniature ones, chances are you're not exactly thinking about you Christmas tree while you're lounging at the beach in July.

Thank goodness for professional Christmas tree growers. Like Santa and his elves, the folks involved in growing the beloved Tannenbaums rarely get a day off. Christmas trees are living things and require continual maintenance including planting, fertilizing, …