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How to Care for Your Christmas Tree
Selecting a Fresh Christmas Tree
To ensure your Christmas tree stays fresh and vibrant throughout the holiday season, it’s crucial to choose a healthy tree. Here’s how:
- Inspect the Needles: The needles should be a deep green color and firmly attached to the branches. Avoid trees with discolored or falling needles.
- Check the Branches: Run your hand over a branch. It should feel pliable, not brittle.
- Cut the Base of the Tree: After selecting your tree, cut a 1/2-inch disk off the base of the trunk. Make a straight cut to ensure optimal water absorption.
Watering Your Christmas Tree
Watering is essential for keeping your Christmas tree hydrated and preventing it from drying out.
- Daily Watering: Fresh Christmas trees require daily watering, especially in the first few days after bringing them home.
- Amount of Water: 6-foot trees need about a gallon of water daily. Adjust this amount based on the size of your tree.
- Submerge the Trunk: Fill the tree stand with water so that the cut trunk is fully immersed. Monitor the water level daily and add enough water to keep the trunk submerged.
Choosing the Right Christmas Tree Stand
The Christmas tree stand should be the appropriate size for your tree.
- Capacity: The stand should hold at least 1 quart of water per inch of trunk diameter.
- Avoid Shrinking the Trunk: Do not shave the trunk down to fit a stand that is too small. The outer layers of the trunk conduct water.
Selecting the Right Location
The location of your Christmas tree can impact its longevity.
- Avoid Heat Sources: Keep the tree away from fireplaces, vents, radiators, and large windows that face south or west. Heat can cause the tree to dry out prematurely.
- Consider a Live Tree: If you have a live tree, limit the time it spends in the house to a maximum of one week to 10 days. Keep it in an unheated, sheltered area until just before Christmas.
Caring for a Live Christmas Tree
Live Christmas trees require special care to ensure their survival after the holidays.
- Water Regularly: Water the tree deeply until water drips out of the bottom. The soil should be slightly damp but not soggy.
- Protect the Roots: If the tree is not already potted, wrap the root ball in plastic to prevent the roots from drying out.
- Acclimate to Outdoor Temperatures: After the holidays, gradually accustom the tree to the outdoor temperatures by keeping it in a sheltered area for several days.
- Replanting: If the ground is not frozen, replant the tree promptly. Otherwise, overwinter the tree in an unheated garage or porch where it is not exposed to sun and wind.
Additional Tips
- Avoid Additives: Do not add sugar, aspirin, bleach, or commercial floral preservatives to the water in the Christmas tree stand. These additives will not keep the tree fresher.
- Check the Water Level Daily: Monitor the water level daily and add water as needed to keep the trunk submerged.
- Keep the Tree Away from Pets and Children: Christmas trees can be hazardous to pets and children. Keep the tree out of reach and supervise children around it.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your Christmas tree remains fresh and vibrant throughout the holiday season.
