Robyn Stewart
My favorite part of the year is putting up a live Christmas tree. A live tree is a beautiful addition to any home, but does require some maintenance and planning to have. If you’re like me and purchased your tree at Thanksgiving, or if you wait a bit longer to put one up, the following tips can ensure that your tree stays beautiful throughout the holiday season.
The first way to ensure longevity of your Christmas tree is to ensure that your tree is fresh. If you cut your own at a tree farm, you’ll know exactly when the cut was made. However, if you purchase at a big box store, you can’t know how long the tree has been cut before you pick it up. If the tree is fresh, you should have very few needles fall when you run your hands over the branches or tap the base on the ground. Before you place your tree in the tree stand, you should make a fresh 1” cut at the base of the trunk. By doing so, you open pores that may have been blocked by resin, ensuring your tree can take up water efficiently. Trees should be ready for a tree stand for six to eight hours after cutting before needing to be re-cut again. Once the tree is ready to be placed in the stand, it is best to have someone to hold the tree and check for straightness and someone to fasten the stand on. It is also much easier to place your tree if you keep the baling twine or netting on it until it is in the stand and situated in your home.
When considering placement of your Christmas tree in your home, there are several things to keep in mind. Be sure to keep the tree away from things like fireplaces and heat vents, as these can cause the tree to dry out faster and require more water. Placing your tree close to an electrical outlet makes stringing lights more efficient and reduces safety hazards of running electrical cords in your home. It is important to buy a tree sized appropriately for your space, so make sure you know how tall your ceilings are and measure your tree at the farm to ensure it will fit!
In order to maintain tree freshness, it is important to ensure it receives enough water. In the first week of display, a tree, depending on diameter, can use more than one gallon of water per day. It is important to check your tree stand every day, refilling as needed to cover the level of the trunk bottom. You do not need to add anything to the tree stand or water in order to preserve your tree.
Once the holiday season is over, there are several things you can do to help make taking down your tree a breeze. Use a sponge to transfer any remaining water out of the stand to a bucket, then lay the tree down on a tarp or bedsheet. Take off your tree stand, wrap the sheet or tarp around your tree, and remove it from your home. Wrapping the tree in this manner helps reduce the amount of needles that are shed in your home. In case you are not aware, the needles from Christmas trees can clog your vacuum, so keep this in mind during cleanup!
Having a live Christmas tree is my favorite part of the holidays, and following these tips can ensure it stays fresh and looks good throughout the season. If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us at 706-359-3233 or uge3181@uga.edu
