Quick Tips to Care for Your Freshly Cut Christmas Tree

 

Artificial Christmas trees might have become popular for the past few years but nothing beats that comforting and refreshing pine smell that only a freshly cut evergreen can give off. Real Christmas trees can help make your Christmas gift ideas really shine through on Christmas morning. What is even better is that picking the right tree is one of those traditions where families can bond together in a fun way.

If you have finally decided to use a fresh-cut Christmas tree for the coming holidays, you can lengthen its lifespan and maintain its quality even after the festive season is over if you know how to properly look after your tree.

Follow these tips to make the most out of your Christmas tree:

1. Don’t Buy Before You Check the Freshness of the Tree

One of the easiest ways to ensure that your tree stays healthy through the month of December is to ensure that it is really fresh the moment you buy it. To do this, you can loosely run your hand along a branch, starting close to the trunk. Gently tug the needles until you reach the end of the branch. If there are needless that fall off from tree into, chances are the tree is no longer very fresh might go bad much faster than other trees with no falling needles.

2. Cut the Tree Once You Arrive at Home

If your tree was bought from a lot with pines that are cut already and placed in stands, you have to cut a thin disk of around ¼ inch off the trunk’s bottom before you put it up for display in your home. If you personally cut the tree, there is no need to do this step as it will still be fresh enough. Doing so allows easy soaking of water into the tree to keep it fresh for a longer period of time.

3. Keep the Fresh-Cut Tree in Water

A fresh-cut Christmas tree should always stay in water. Choose a stand large enough to carry at least one gallon of water with the bottom of the trunk fully submerged all the time.

4. Use a Large Stand

If the tree you bought has a thicker trunk, use a stand that can accommodate it. Don’t carve the trunk’s edges that to make it fit inside a smaller stand as it won’t be that stable or it won’t be able to absorb as much water.

5. Pick the Right Location for Your Tree

You have to be very careful in choosing where you will place your tree in the house. You should never put it near appliances, fireplaces, heaters or other household fixtures that can pose danger since trees tend to be very flammable once they age. If there are elderly seniors or young children in the house, keep the tree off areas with plenty of foot traffic to avoid injuries and falls.

6. Don’t Use Preservatives

The use of bleach, preservatives and other types of additives will never help make your tree healthy for a longer period of time. Clean and fresh water is the only thing your tree needs.

Follow these tips and enjoy the natural beauty of your fresh-cut Christmas tree even when the Christmas holidays have come and gone.