How to Keep a Christmas Tree Alive

Before the late nineteenth century, families lit their Christmas trees with ornamental candles. Many homes were lost to the resulting infernos. Even though electric Christmas lights have been used since 1882, Christmas tree fires are still destroying homes every year. Families need to follow the right steps to keep their Christmas trees fresh and fire safe - before it's too late. Here's how to keep a Christmas tree alive:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   To keep a Christmas tree alive, choose a fresh one to begin with. Cut one down and take it home at once. Families who only like their evergreens pre-cut should complete the four freshness tests (see step 2) before making their final decision.

2. Test one: Pull three pine needles out of the tree. If the branch hardly moves, move on to the next option. Test two: Feel the tree trunk. The best ones will be sticky from sap; dry trunks indicate dying trees. Test three: Check for limb flexibility, which indicates freshness. Test four: Bang the tree into the ground. If brittle pine needles don't shower down, you have a winner.

3. 
    

   Cut two inches off the butt. This is the real key to keeping a Christmas tree fresh. The bottom should be an off-white shade, so if it looks yellow or brown, two more inches need to be removed. Place the Christmas tree in its water basin (min. 1 gallon) immediately.

4. Make sure the Christmas tree's base is always engulfed in plain water, or resin growth will necessitate another butt cut. That sappy film makes water absorption really hard on Christmas trees! The average tree absorbs between one quart and one gallon of water per day. Antitranspirant sprays lock in moisture, and can also be used to keep Christmas trees fresh.

5. 
    

   Make sure the tree is situated far from sources of heat, including radiators, fireplaces, heating vents, wood stoves, and candles. Even televisions and sunlight from windows can make them dry out too quickly, creating fire hazards that could have been avoided. Heat does not help keep a Christmas tree fresh!

6. Use miniature Christmas tree lights to keep the evergreen from drying out; they produce less heat than larger versions. Check each light string for broken sockets, as well as damaged wire insulation. Dispose of broken light strings immediately. Leave the lights off when everyone is sleeping or away.

7. 
    

   Buy the tree after Thanksgiving and dispose of it by January 6th. Never burn the tree; the fire can become massive and uncontrollable within seconds. Even burning clippings sometimes results in chimney fire. Check local laws to see how you might recycle or otherwise dispose of your Christmas tree.

Tips & Warnings

• Only use UL (Underwriter Laboratory) approved Christmas light strings.

[MeganK]

on 1/7/2009 Really good article. My mom would always collect the thrown out christmas trees and put a bunch in the backyard so the birds would have shelter in the winter.

[lymanalo]

on 12/28/2008 Excellent tips!

[jimdris]

on 12/24/2008 Very informative details about Christmas tree selection and safety!

[taskeinc]

on 12/22/2008 Very good tips on safety .. The live xmas tree is the best, in my opinion, but you do have to pay attention to detail as you've outlined here ... thanks for sharing.

[voliegurl]

on 12/20/2008 I like the recycle idea!