It has broken my heart more than once to wake up on Christmas Day and see a dry brown tree with a lot of needles falling out every time my children pulled a gift from under it. A Christmas tree that lasts through the holiday season can be challenging. If you’re anything like me, this can be a challenge.
You see, I like to decorate early. Although some may be critical of my early festivity, studies have shown that decorating early could make you happier. Who couldn’t use extra cheer as the last autumn leaves fall, the days get shorter, and the winter chill sets in? My family will enjoy the Thanksgiving leftovers while I continue my tradition and put up the Christmas tree.
As an early decorator, I’ve come to some conclusions about how to sustain the freshness of my tree and avoid opening gifts around a bundle of bare stems and a pile of brown needles. You can read on to find out some things I have learned. How to keep my tree green and healthy up until Boxing Day.
Don’t Get Started Too Soon
I know, I know, I’m telling you to do the thing that I, myself, have already confessed to doing. But when keeping your tree fresh, there is a shelf life that can’t be extended beyond a certain point. In other words, don’t be the first in line when the initial round of trees hits the tent.
The average lifespan of a tree is About four to five weeks inside. It is likely that your tree will not look as good after five weeks, no matter how well you take care of it. If you want your tree to look great on Christmas morning, wait until after Thanksgiving.
Choose a Reputable Vendor
There are differences in the quality of trees that vendors sell. Things that affect the tree’s health before and during the time it is being prepared for sale are important factors to consider. The freshness of the tree depends on how recently it was cut, how quickly and efficiently it was transported, as well as how it was treated at its destination.
Select a supplier with high turnover for freshest trees. If you buy a tree that has been sitting for weeks on a truck or lot, then it’s as if it was sitting in your home.
You can feel the branches and check for any loose needles. If you notice that the needles have already fallen off, don’t buy it. The decline will be gradual. I’ve bought great trees from large home improvement centers and bad ones from actual tree lots. Your local nursery will often have the best, freshest trees.
Give it a New Cut
The trunk is the most important thing to consider when it comes to ensuring that your tree will last as long and as well as possible. Any retailer worth his salt will cut the trunk fresh before you load up your tree and go home.
Trees can only be without water between four and eight hours before the trunk starts to heal. See, trees are clever. An evergreen will self-heal if it is injured in nature, such as by a broken branch, or scratches and scrapes. The tree will send sap to the wound, which will seal it and prevent bacteria.
Unfortunately, Christmas trees are still not evolved enough to meet our needs for the holidays. When cut, they quickly seal off their trunks. Once the cut has healed, no water will be absorbed. Without water, it won’t last very long.
Think of your trees as cut flowers. When you buy roses from the store you cut the ends to allow the flowers to absorb more water and remain fresher for longer. It’s the same with your Christmas tree.
Fresher cuts will have a longer life span. It does not matter that the tree may have only been cut a few hours ago at the tree lot. You can still take a slice off of the end just before you put it into the stand. A ½ inch cut is all you need.
The Right Stand
The stand that you choose for your tree is a very important decision. In general, the stand size should be matched to the tree’s size. It is better to have a larger stand than you need than one that’s too small.
They come in different sizes. The stand will show the maximum trunk diameter and height.
I always give my advice. Pay more attention to trunk diameter rather than heightThey will usually correlate. A tall, thin tree can have the same diameter trunk as a short, wide one. Both trees need the same amount water and stand size, despite the fact that one is much taller.
Select a stand which makes it easier to set up your tree straight and also allows some adjustments. This is particularly important if the tree stand is being set up by one person. The Krinner Genie comes in a variety of sizes. It can accommodate a large trunk with a diameter of seven inches.
Reservoir is another important consideration when choosing a stand. You don’t want to have to water three times a day. It is enough to water once a day. Ensure that your stand’s reservoir holds at least one day’s worth of water.
Water, Water
How much water can the stand hold exactly? This again is largely determined by the diameter of the trunk. Water requirements for trees are determined by the height and width, but the diameter of the trunk is most important.
You can estimate that for each inch of diameter it will need one quart of daily water. This means that a tree trunk with a diameter of 4 inches takes up about 1 gallon of water per day. You will have less to do if your reservoir is larger. If your reservoir is smaller, you’ll have to water all day, and no one has the time during the holidays.
What you do is important. don’t let the bottom of the trunk dry out. If the cut surface is out of water for four to eight hours, it will seal back over, and you’ll have to cut it again to get it to drink. It is dangerous and difficult to cut the trunk after the tree has been decorated. I don’t recommend it.
Keep away from Heat
Even though evergreen trees are green all year round, they do have a winter dormant phase, just like most plants. The cold temperatures tell the tree to dormancy and the warmer weather of spring will awaken it. You want to Avoid placing your tree near any heat source.This will help the tree to dry out faster.
Place your tree, if possible, in the room that is the most cool in the home. It’s best to place it close to a window or a door, so it can stay a little bit cooler. Do not put it anywhere near a wood stove or radiator. A dry tree can be a disaster.
Use LED Lights
Replace old incandescent lights with LED lights to cool your tree. LED lights run cooler. Trees are not affected by drying..
I have a bad habit of leaving my Christmas tree on and not switching off the lights when I leave. Traditional tree lights can pose a serious fire risk, particularly larger bulbs which heat up. LED lights can take the worry out tree care, and are easier for those who may be too busy or absent-minded to remember to turn them on and off.
How to Put Lights On a Timer
Next, I will give you a tip to make your Christmas tree last longer. Set your lights to a timer. LED lights are not everyone’s style. Some people prefer bigger or more extravagant lights, even though they are available in cool or warm white. My mom loved to hang a couple of bubble lights from our tree as a nostalgic touch. These can be particularly hot.
You can reduce the risk of your tree overheating if you use specialty lights as part of your decor. Put your lights on timers. Set the timer to the duration you wish to enjoy the lights, and set it so that they turn off when you are away.
A great tool to have is Plug with remote to control lighting on and off. It can be hard to reach that outlet behind the trunk and you may leave lights on so as not to scratch yourself while reaching through the branches. I plug my lights into a special extension that is controlled remotely. A simple push of a switch and presto! The lights come on and go off with no additional difficulty.
Mist
You can also mist your Christmas tree, just like you would with other plants or flowers. This will help to keep the leaves looking fresh and hydrated. This may not be the best solution for everyone. Not all ornaments can be waterproof.
You probably don’t want to spray water all over your grandmother’s heirlooms. You can mist your tree daily if it has ornaments that are tolerant of moisture.
Final Thoughts
There are many things you can do to prolong the life of your freshly cut Christmas tree. Watering your tree and keeping it away from high heat is the best way to keep its needles from falling off before the big day. Buy from a trusted sourceDo not underestimate the value a new cut has before you put it on a stand. Happy holidays.