How to Fireproof a Christmas Tree

There are two ways to fireproof a live Christmas tree: the old-fashioned way and the chemically enhanced way. There are differing opinions on whether or not the chemically enhanced way works or not. Below you will find both options so you can decide for yourself.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Christmas Tree
• 2 Pinches Epsom Salt
• 2 Gallons Hot Water
• 1 Tsp. Chelated Iron
• ½ Tsp. Borax
• 2 ozs. Liquid Chlorine Bleach
• 2 Cups Karo Syrup

The Old-Fashioned Way

1. Cut down or purchase a fresh, live Christmas tree of your liking.

2. Use a bow saw to remove one to two inches of the stump--even if you just cut it yourself prior to bringing it home.

3. Set the tree in a large tub of water before bringing it inside. Leave the tree in this tub for 24 to 48 hours, making sure the tub is kept full of cool water. The tree will drink up a large amount of water during this time, so make sure the tub stays full.

4. Place the tree in a stand that includes a built-in water reservoir and bring it into the house.

5. Fill up the water reservoir and keep it full the whole time the tree is inside the house. If the reservoir becomes empty and the tree stump dries out for even one day, it will lose its ability to soak up any more water and will continue to dry out even if the reservoir is eventually refilled.

Chemically Enhanced Version

1. Cut down or purchase a fresh, live Christmas tree of your liking.

2. Fill a bucket with 2 gallons of hot water and add 2 cups Karo syrup, 2 ozs. liquid chlorine bleach, 2 pinches Epsom salt, 1/2 tsp. Borax and 1 tsp. chelated iron.

3. Cut about 1 inch evenly off the base of the trunk of your tree.

4. Soak the tree for 24 hours. After this time, preserve the solution and put it in the reservoir of the stand to further fireproof the tree.

5. Take the tree out of the bucket and place it in a Christmas tree stand. Fill the reservoir with the solution left over from the bucket.

6. Fill the reservoir each day with the leftover solution until you take the tree down.

Tips & Warnings

• To help keep your tree watered more easily, purchase "Santa's Magic Water Spout." This device contains a hollow bell-shaped cup with a long tube running down to the water reservoir and blends in with the tree. You can easily fill the cup at the top of the tree to ensure the reservoir never runs out.

• Shake your fresh tree prior to bringing it inside to get rid of already dead needles so less will end up on your floor. Pound the trunk of the tree on concrete to fully rid it of all dead needles.

• To keep your tree from shedding needles longer, try using some 7-Up in the water at a 50/50 water to soda ratio.

• You can purchase Karo syrup, bleach and Borax from most supermarkets. Get the chelated iron from a garden shop.

• Don't let the tree dry out. If you don't give the tree enough water, it will dry out and become a fire hazard and no amount of chemicals will prevent the tree from drying out and depending on what chemicals are being used, they could actually dry the tree out quicker and make the situation worse.

• The biggest cause of Christmas tree fires is faulty wiring on the Christmas tree lights strung around the tree and/or overloading electrical outlets or extension cords that are used to plug in lights and other items hung on the tree itself.