Christmas Tree Care

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Dec 20, 1999

This may be a little late for some, but I thought I would give you some suggestions for your Christmas tree this year. The first thing is to start with a fresh tree. If you buy a tree from a local lot check you can check for freshness. The easiest way is to do the "needle drop test." Grab the tree by the trunk, in the middle, halfway between the top and the bottom. Lift the tree about a foot off the ground and drop the cut trunk back onto the ground, but don't let it fall over. If this results in a shower of needles from the tree, look for another tree. If not, or if there is only a few needles, the tree is fresh.

In order to get the tree home with some needles left on it, you are going to have to take some precautions. That means come prepared to the lot. If you have to travel a long distance, you can protect the tree from wind by placing it in the trunk of the car, in the back of a station wagon, or in an enclosed truck. If you have to tie it to the top of your car, first wrap it with cloth or plastic. The wind created by your car, especially on the freeway, can really dry out your tree.

Once you get the tree home, cut an inch off the base of the trunk and place the tree in a container of water. This will allow water to be quickly absorbed into the tree. Sometimes cutting an inch off the trunk isn't easy, but it is very important. A good woodsaw will make this job a lot easier. Place the tree, with its trunk in a container of water, in a cool, shaded, windless location. A garage or unheated porch is ideal.

The key to keeping a cut Christmas tree fresh and fire safe is water. If an evergreen is full of water, there is very little fire danger. However, as soon as the tree is cut, it begins to dry out, and your job is to get water back into the tree as quickly as possible. The water in this container should be changed daily. Once you're ready to bring the tree into the house for decorating, trim off another piece of the trunk and place the tree in a stand that holds water.

Contrary to popular belief, you don't really need to put anything in the water. All the tree needs is the water itself.

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