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How to Care for Your Farm-Grown Fresh Christmas Tree

When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your displayed trees. Below are a number of tips relating to the care of displayed trees:

1. Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.


2. Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree. The outer layers of wood are most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.


3. 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. Keep in mind, after the tree seals itself off, it will absorb very little water. Don't bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.


4. 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.


5. To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water or more in the 24 hours after it is cut, and one or more quarts every day after. Maintaining a steady water level prevents the needles from drying out and dropping off and the boughs from drooping. Water will also keep the tree fragrant. 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.


6. Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.


7. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.


8. Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water. Dried sap will form a seal over the cut stump within several hours if the water level falls below the base of the tree. If this occurs, make another fresh cut in the butt-end and promptly fill the stand with water (this is not an easy task with a tree filled with lights and ornaments).


9. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.


10. Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.


11. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.


12. Do not overload electrical circuits.


13. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.


14. Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.


15. Go to www.realchristmastrees.org and type in your ZIP code to find a recycling program near you.


16. Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.