How To Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh

Below are a number of tips recommended from the National Christmas Tree Association to care for your fresh-cut Christmas Tree.

1. Display trees in fresh water. Do not mix anything in the water including packets or products that claim to keep your tree fresher. Just plain fresh water is all you need.
2. Make a fresh, straight, perpendicular cut 1/2" thick from the base of the tree.
   
3. Place tree in water as soon as possible, no longer than 6 to 8 hours after making a fresh cut.
4. Use a tree stand large enough to hold 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter.
5. Definitely use a stand that matches the tree height. We have three sizes here at Garden District.
6. Try to keep displayed tree away from sources of heat.
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 the level of water does not go below the base of the tree.
9. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake
10. Use lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights.
11. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.

The type of tree is also a factor. This year we are only carrying Fraser Firs, which are known to stay fresh for long periods of time. Last year, I had a Fraser Fir in my house and I did not seem to have any problem placing it close to a heat source, a vent close to the front bay window. I kept the tree well watered and that seemed to do the trick.

Here's what really pulled the whole thing together making it that much more special. For safety reasons, I did not want to keep the lights on while I was out of the house. So I connect the tree lights to a timer (can be found at most hardware stores) and set the lights to go on when I returned home from work in the evening and go off before I went to bed.