How to Care for Live Christmas Trees: Top Tips for Christmas Tree Care

Take care of a real Christmas tree so that it remains beautiful through the season.

Although an artificial tree can be beautiful and very life-like in appearance, you may prefer to have a real Christmas tree over the holidays. Real trees need special care to keep their fresh green look and scent, whether they are cut from the base or are sold with a root ball intended for post-season planting. Maintenance is required for any real tree, and with proper care, it will remain attractive and safe during the holidays.

Things You'll Need

• Tree stand
• Water
• Saw
• Large container
• Mulch
• Blanket

Instructions

Cut Trees

1. Shake the tree vigorously by holding it along the trunk and tapping the bottom of the trunk with energy against the ground. This will loosen dead, dry needles that can be a fire hazard. It will also give you an idea of how fresh the tree is. Expect some needles to fall, but a great many needles indicates the tree will not last through your holiday. Some tree merchants have mechanical devices that provide this service.

2. Buy the correct size tree for your home. If it is too large, the amount that must be cut from the bottom for it to fit can change the overall look of your tree.

3. Cut about an inch of trunk from the bottom to open the cells that have healed. This is necessary so that the cut surface of the tree is prepared to absorb water during the holidays. Water is necessary to keep the tree from drying out. Make this cut straight across the trunk of the tree rather than at an angle. Many tree farms will provide this service.

4. Transport the tree with care. To preserve its beauty, have the tree baled or netted if possible, and when you put it on the top of your vehicle, have the base end facing forward so that the tree does not fight the wind.

5. Select the proper tree stand. The Purdue Extension advises that the tree needs to be placed in a stand that holds a quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter at the base. Replenish the water supply as it dwindles. If the water supply disappears entirely, the tree may begin to heal itself and further watering will not be absorbed.

6. Choose a room that is not excessively hot or dry. Too much warmth will hasten the deterioration of the tree. Consider running a humidifier in the room where the tree is set up.

7. Decorate your tree with cool lights. The heat of some light bulbs will dry the tree out faster.

8. Protect your tree from the friendly assault of your pets. Dogs and cats are often intrigued by the addition to the home and can damage your tree by knocking it over or breaking branches when trying to play with the ornaments. Consider placing the tree in a room that can be closed off when there is no human around to supervise.

Living Trees

1. Pick a tree that will look good in your landscape. Plan carefully for the look you want to achieve when the tree is transplanted after the holidays.

2. Acclimate your tree from its outdoor life to its stint inside your home. Set the tree inside a garage for a few days. A basement works well, too. Cover the root ball with mulching material or an old blanket to keep moisture in.

3. Put a large container in place where you wish to set up the tree. Pick a container that is deep enough and heavy enough to hold the tree upright. Cover the root ball again to keep moisture in and disguise the container with a pretty tree skirt.

4. Replenish the root ball every day with about a quart of water.

5. Repeat the acclimatizing of the tree for a few days after the holidays before you replant. Let it sit in the garage or basement before transplanting.

6. Check the ground to be sure you can plant the tree. Frozen ground is hard to dig. If you know ahead of time that you will be planting the tree, follow the advice of Mother Earth News by digging the hole earlier in the season before the hard freeze comes, keeping the soil in storage and filling the vacant spot with straw.

7. Remove the root ball from the burlap bag, plant the tree, mulch it and give it a good watering.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure the space in your home where the tree will be placed and take the measuring tape with you when you buy. Estimations are not always accurate.

• When the season is over, consider recycling your cut tree.

• The dryer the tree, the bigger fire hazard it is. Take care not to have any open flames near your tree. Keep candles away from the tree and make sure your lights do not have worn spots in the wiring.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Christmas Trees and More
• Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources:Tips for First-Time Buyers of Real Christmas Trees
• Caring for a Tree: Important Tips on Caring for Your Christmas Tree
• National Christmas Tree Association: How to Care for Your Farm-Grown Fresh Christmas Tree
• Mother Earth News; "Have a Green Christmas: Live Christmas Trees"; December 1991-January 1992

Resources

• PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org: Christmas Trees
• United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library: I Want To Learn about Christmas Trees and Greenery