With the holiday season quickly approaching and pretty soon it’s going to be time to put up your Christmas tree. Nothing gets you quite in the spirit like handpicking that live tree with loved ones knowing that it’ll bring with it a sense of warmth, cheer and memories in the month to come.
That being said – if you’re like some, you might be an early bird and shop for that tree early. While that means that you’ll both beat the crowds and get the pick of the proverbial litter; it also means that you’ll have to care for your tree for a longer period of time. That longer period of time can mean more room for the tree to dry out and potentially begin to die off before the big day arrives. Obviously, we don’t want that to happen!
That being said – if you’re like some, you might be an early bird and shop for that tree early. While that means that you’ll both beat the crowds and get the pick of the proverbial litter; it also means that you’ll have to care for your tree for a longer period of time. That longer period of time can mean more room for the tree to dry out and potentially begin to die off before the big day arrives. Obviously, we don’t want that to happen!
Usually, we look to water alone as being enough to keep your Christmas tree looking fresh and clean,
but there are some other techniques that you can use that will help lengthen your tree’s life – a few of
which we’ll talk about today. Here are some tips you can use to keep your tree happy and healthy during the holiday season.
Water
We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about water first, because it is the most important ingredient to a tree’s success. Warm or hot – the temperature of the water doesn’t matter too much. What does matter is the amount of water.
Trees - after they have been cut - get extremely parched and can suck up as much as a gallon of water in one day depending on its size. For the first week or so, you need to make sure that you’re checking your tree stand once to twice a day to make sure your tree has enough water. As you get closer to Christmas, you’ll only need to check it once a day, but those first few days are crucial. Your tree will be thirsty and you’ll need enough water there to sustain it. Be sure to stay on the ball!
Turn off the lights at night
Christmas tree lights can get really hot and when left on for hours at a time, they can really dry out your tree. The danger in this drying out process isn’t just that it’s killing your tree – but it can pose a
significant fire safety risk. What that means is – not only are you creating an aesthetic issue, but you’re
also creating a safety issue, too. By all means – enjoy your tree; but just be careful to not leave the lights on all the time. Turn them off when you’re out of the house and before you go to bed at night. Doing so can significantly lengthen the lifespan of your Christmas tree.
What about preservatives?
Some folks are crazy about commercial Christmas tree preservatives and other home remedies like
honey, sugar and corn syrup. While none of these things will do anything to harm your tree, there’s not much of a consensus on whether they work or not. In fact, most research says they don’t. That being said – as long as you know that, who are we to say a little blind faith hurts in this case? By all means – if you think it works, go for it – just know the science doesn’t back it up.
Location
You can put up your tree just about anywhere, but we highly recommend keeping it away from heat
sources like heaters, fireplaces or near any appliances that blow out a lot of heat. Like lights – these will dry your tree out quickly. Make sure your tree is well away from heat sources and if possible – in a place where there’s a little more humidity in the air. The moisture will be a big benefit to your tree. Hopefully, these tips will help you keep your tree going a little longer. We hope you have a blast this holiday season! Good luck finding the ‘perfect tree’ and have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!
but there are some other techniques that you can use that will help lengthen your tree’s life – a few of
which we’ll talk about today. Here are some tips you can use to keep your tree happy and healthy during the holiday season.
Water
We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about water first, because it is the most important ingredient to a tree’s success. Warm or hot – the temperature of the water doesn’t matter too much. What does matter is the amount of water.
Trees - after they have been cut - get extremely parched and can suck up as much as a gallon of water in one day depending on its size. For the first week or so, you need to make sure that you’re checking your tree stand once to twice a day to make sure your tree has enough water. As you get closer to Christmas, you’ll only need to check it once a day, but those first few days are crucial. Your tree will be thirsty and you’ll need enough water there to sustain it. Be sure to stay on the ball!
Turn off the lights at night
Christmas tree lights can get really hot and when left on for hours at a time, they can really dry out your tree. The danger in this drying out process isn’t just that it’s killing your tree – but it can pose a
significant fire safety risk. What that means is – not only are you creating an aesthetic issue, but you’re
also creating a safety issue, too. By all means – enjoy your tree; but just be careful to not leave the lights on all the time. Turn them off when you’re out of the house and before you go to bed at night. Doing so can significantly lengthen the lifespan of your Christmas tree.
What about preservatives?
Some folks are crazy about commercial Christmas tree preservatives and other home remedies like
honey, sugar and corn syrup. While none of these things will do anything to harm your tree, there’s not much of a consensus on whether they work or not. In fact, most research says they don’t. That being said – as long as you know that, who are we to say a little blind faith hurts in this case? By all means – if you think it works, go for it – just know the science doesn’t back it up.
Location
You can put up your tree just about anywhere, but we highly recommend keeping it away from heat
sources like heaters, fireplaces or near any appliances that blow out a lot of heat. Like lights – these will dry your tree out quickly. Make sure your tree is well away from heat sources and if possible – in a place where there’s a little more humidity in the air. The moisture will be a big benefit to your tree. Hopefully, these tips will help you keep your tree going a little longer. We hope you have a blast this holiday season! Good luck finding the ‘perfect tree’ and have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!
RSS Feed