How to Treat a Living Christmas Tree

A living Christmas tree is a joy for the season. Visitors will delight at the wonderful, fresh scent all winter. A live tree is also the best choice for the environment since it creates no waste. You can plant the tree in January in a permanent location on your property, or in an approved, safe locale. Here are a few tips that will come in handy when dealing with your festive tree.

Instructions

1. Comb through your tree before moving it indoors. Use your arms as a brush that gets out any "tangles" in your tree that are caused by loose branches and dead needles. It is best to remove this before bringing the tree into the home. Be sure to go over the tree a few times, but don't batter it. Simple gently run your arms through the tree. A quick shake or two is a good idea as well.

2. Bend your tree when moving it indoors. It's better to bend the tree than to risk scraping it or damaging its high boughs during transportation. Moving the tree a bit sideways is quite harmless.

3. Be gentle with your tree upon set up. Never try to push, budge or pull your living tree to stand in a certain direction. If the tree is leaning towards one way or another--and having a straight tree is important to you--simply put a stack of papers underneath the pot of the tree. Do this until it balances out. You can have a straight tree while protecting your living tree from harmful prodding.

4. Prune your Christmas tree lightly if you feel that you must prune it at all. Never prune more than four or five branches, or you'll risk permanently damaging your gorgeous living tree.

5. Water your tree with 1 to 2 pints of water per day. Some people prefer to use lemon lime soda for their trees.

6. Keep it cool. Never leave your living Christmas tree in front of the fireplace over night. A living tree should be kept in a cool place where it can never overheat.

7. Keep a humidifier running in the same room where you are going to place your living Christmas tree. This is a smart move since people and plants greatly benefit from this when it comes to maintaining optimal health. Dry air from winter can harm plants and animals, and this is a safety precaution that can really pay off.

8. Look at your tree often. Keep an eye on it. Every tree is different. Observe your tree so that you can tend to its optimal health.

Tips & Warnings

• Never throw out your living Christmas tree after the season. That defeats the whole purpose of obtaining a living tree. Instead, find a safe haven for planting the tree.