Tips For Maintaining Your Christmas Tree

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

29 Nov 2006 08:00 AM

So you've got your Christmas tree up and decorated--congratulations--you're ahead of the game in my book. In a previous blog I provided tips on how to choose the perfect Christmas tree, but that job is just the first step. After you cut your own tree at a farm or pick one from a lot you should have it wrapped with some type of netting to bring it home. This makes it easier to transport; protects the tree when you bring it in the house; and makes it easier when you put it in the stand. Which is a great tip: unwrap the tree once it is in the stand inside your home. Some tree lots only wrap trees upon request and it may cost you a couple of extra dollars, but you'll find that it is worth it in the end.

Once you get your tree home you should saw off about 2-inches from the bottom of it. This gets the juices flowing again (remember a sappy tree is a healthy tree). Then you should put the tree in a large bucket of lukewarm water for a few hours before putting it into a stand.

Next, it's time to address the tree stand issue. This is the part where things get a bit tricky. You want to make sure to get a stand that fits your tree, which can be a tricky proposition considering you may have only one tree stand, but your trees may vary in size from year to year. You don't want to get into a situation where you have to cut the bark around the base of your tree to make it fit into the stand. This destroys the protective layer that allows the tree to absorb water. Another tip: make sure your tree stand holds at least two gallons of water; Christmas trees need lots of water. A new tree put in a stand can drink up as much as 1.5 gallons of water in the first 24 hours that it is home.

Once you have your tree secured in the stand, make sure you diligently check the water level on a daily basis. If you keep the tree watered, it can last four to six weeks. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, you need to be careful about adding things to the tree's water. They say plain water is usually the best (water temperature doesn't matter). However, you could add a preservative, like Prolong, in the water. The preservative kills the bacteria and keeps the tree fresher longer.

Related Articles:

It's Beginning To SMELL A Lot Like Christmas

Creating A White Christmas--Indoors

Natural Christmas Décor

Natural Christmas Décor Part 2

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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