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Having a real Christmas tree in your home is a great way to bring in the holiday spirit and it is something that over 25 million households will be doing this year.
Even though they can be beautiful, real Christmas trees can be hard to take care of and one of the biggest concerns is ensuring that it will last through the holiday season. After you have spent a lot of time and money finding the perfect Christmas tree for your home, you want to make sure that it will still be there when the big day arrives.
There are some things that you can do to prolong the life of your Christmas tree to keep your home looking (and smelling!) festive throughout the holiday season.
Guide To Keeping a Christmas Tree Fresh
Start The Process Early
It can take a long time for you to find the perfect Christmas tree for your home. This is often a task that requires the whole family and it can take all day if you want it to.
This is why it is very important that you take care of your real Christmas tree to ensure that it will last throughout the holiday season. One of the best ways to keep your Christmas tree fresh is to start early.
You should start to take care of your Christmas tree from the moment you have chosen the one you want. This includes wrapping it in plastic to keep it protected through the journey home.
If you have chosen a pre-cut tree for your home, you will need to cut the bottom of the tree again yourself. You should aim to take off around an inch from the bottom of the tree.
This is an important thing to do because pre-cut trees are not able to absorb water as well.
This is because the sap from inside the tree will start to seal over the base, preventing it from being able to absorb water.
By cutting the bottom of your tree once you get it home you will open up the trunk so it can absorb water once more. You should keep your Christmas tree in a bucket of water and ensure that it always has something to drink.
This will prolong the life of your Christmas tree and keep it fresh for longer.
Keep The Tree Watered
As soon as you get your Christmas tree home, you need to put it in water. It is very important that the base of the tree never has the chance to dry out as this will help keep the pines fresh.
Not only will this improve the appearance of your Christmas tree throughout the holiday season, but it will also ensure that the pines have a fresh scent – which is often the main attraction to having a real tree in the home.
You can set up your tree on a stand and occasionally water it or keep it in a bucket that you can fill regularly.
According to experts, a typical Christmas tree will absorb around a quart of water for every inch of its diameter.
Use Tree Preservatives
Another way that you can keep your Christmas tree fresh for longer is by using specially made tree preserves. It is likely that you will be offered a commercial Christmas tree preserve when you purchase a real tree, so they are easy to obtain.
These preserves can be mixed in with the water that is in the bucket or stand of your Christmas tree to provide it with essential nutrients.
You can also try using corn syrup or sugar in the base of your Christmas tree to keep it fresh for longer.
This process is something that is entirely down to personal preference, as some people do not think that tree preserves do anything at all.
Consider The Location
Where you stand, your Christmas tree can impact the longevity and freshness of it.
It is important that you keep your Christmas tree away from direct sunlight, heaters, and fans as these can cause it to dehydrate, which will reduce the freshness of the pines.
Some experts have recommended using a room humidifier when you have a real Christmas tree in the home to ensure that there is enough moisture in the air to keep it fresh. Not only will these keep the pines fresh for longer, but humidifiers can also reduce the risk of fire.
You should make sure that any lights you put on your Christmas tree are in good working order to also reduce the risk of fire. Newer LED lights will be your best option, as they are cheap to run and stay cool even when they are powered on.
With the proper care, your real Christmas tree can last for a month or even longer.
