Keep That Christmas Tree Fresh and Beautiful
For some people an artificial Christmas tree is much more convenient – and much simpler – to deal with during the Holidays but others prefer an old fashioned real Christmas tree. While the aesthetics of a real tree enhance the Christmas experience for some, real Christmas trees do require quite a bit of care.
The National Fire Protection Association says that a large portion of fires happen during the month of December – and sometimes Christmas trees are the culprit. In fact – last year some 160 home fires during the month of December were thought to have started because of Christmas trees.
So what can you do to make sure your live Christmas tree is staying fresh
- When a Christmas tree is cut, more than half its weight is water, so use a stand that can hold enough water for the tree size. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.
- The outer layers of the tree are most efficient in taking up water, so don’t whittle the sides of the trunk to fit the stand. Instead, choose an appropriate stand to fit the tree.
- Remove a flat, 1/2-inch-thick disk at the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. This helps the tree take up water. Don’t cut the trunk at an angle or v-shape as this reduces the amount of water the tree can take up.
- Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.
- Plain tap water is all you need. Don’t add bleach, aspirin, fertilizer or commercial additives.
- Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.
- The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.
- Keep trees away from major sources of heat and direct sunlight.
- Use of lights that produce low heat – such as miniature lights – will reduce drying of the tree.
(AM1180 Radio News in Chattooga County, Georgia)
