Christmas Tree Care Tips
If you want a more enjoyable Christmas season, Christmas tree care is key. After you have selected and brought your Christmas tree home, saw one to two inches off the bottom of the trunk. This opens up the vessels in the wood, allowing it to absorb water readily. Remove dry interior needles by dropping the tree on its trunk in the driveway a few times. Then the tree should be placed in a water holding stand. Use a stand that holds at least a gallon of water so that it won’t need refilling too often. It should be checked frequently and re-watered as necessary.
“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.” – Luther Burbank
As long as the tree can absorb and transpire water, ti will stay reasonably fresh and fire resistant. If the stand reservoir dries out, the cut will quickly heal over, and the tree won’t be able to take up water. You will then have to recut the stump, or the tree will begin to lose its needles.
We recommend the following fire safety practices:
- When placing your tree, keep it away from heat sources such as fireplaces, furnace vents, and televisions.
- Make sure that all of your light cords are in good shape.
- If the insulation on the wiring has become brittle or cracked, discard it.
- Never overload electrical circuits.
- Be sure to turn the lights off when the tree is unattended.
- After the holiday Christmas trees can be used for firewood or chopped up and used as mulch.
