How to Choose and Care For a Christmas Tree

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By Terria Fleming
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A living Christmas tree with it's wonderful scent and beautiful appearance is one of the best parts of Christmas for many people. Buying and caring for a living Christmas tree can be easy once you know how.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A Christmas tree

Step 1

Buy a tree with a healthy green appearance, and not one that is losing green needles or already dry.

Gently shake the tree you selected to be sure the needles are still firmly attached. A few needles will always fall off, but if a lot do then choose another tree.

If every tree on the tree lot is losing needles like crazy, then go to another tree lot. The trees have been in transit or sitting somewhere for many days and are already dried out, and that's definitely not what you want.
Step 2

When you get your tree home, cut about an inch off the bottom. Don't cut on an angle, or in a v shape, but straight across. This cut means your tree will be able to suck water out of the stand when needed.
Step 3

Use a Christmas tree stand that holds an adequate amount of water. A fresh cut tree soaks up about a quart of water a day.

Make sure to check the water level daily so that the stand never goes dry. Don't let the water level get below the base of your tree. Keeping your tree in water is the most important aspect of taking care of your tree and making sure it lasts as long as possible before drying out.
Step 4

Set your Christmas tree up away from furnace vents, heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, or any other source of heat. Keep your tree out of direct sunlight as well. Your tree will rapidly dry out when exposed to heat and direct sunlight on a daily basis.
Step 5

Keep the room temperature low in whatever room you place your Christmas tree. This will also slow the drying out process.
Step 6

Xmas tree

Use only low heat Christmas lights on your Christmas tree. Make sure all the wiring and lights you use on your tree are not worn or defective. And never, ever, place candles on a tree.
Step 7

Turn off your tree lights when you go to bed, or whenever you leave the house.
Step 8

Take the tree down and take it outside, as soon after Christmas as you can or want to, or right after Christmas if the tree is dry.
Step 9

Always recycle your Christmas tree. Never burn it in a wood stove, fireplace, or outside in your yard.

Comments

ramblin62 said

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on 11/20/2009 Great advice for choosing and caring for a Christmas tree. Step #1 is so important. A healthy tree looks nicer, isn't quite such a mess, and also is less of a fire hazard. tx.