How to Care for Your Live Christmas Tree This Holiday Season

The holidays are the time of year when many families get together to enjoy one another’s company. During this festive season, it is customary for many people to bring a live Christmas tree into their homes. The fragrance of a live Christmas tree brings an element of cheer and festivity that’s unmatched. However, it’s essential to properly take care of your live Christmas tree to get the most out of your investment. This blog post will explain how to pick the right Christmas tree for your home and offer live Christmas tree care tips to keep it fresh and last throughout the season.

How to Pick Your Live Christmas Tree  

When selecting a Christmas tree for your home, it is essential to pick a tree grown locally. It may seem clichéd, but freshness does make all the difference! If you are buying from a farmer’s market or local farm, you should choose a species grown in Texas to reduce the risk of spreading non-native pests and diseases to our ecosystem. When selecting a live Christmas tree, you should do so based on how it smells rather than looks. Fresh trees are fragrant and will last the longest in your home.

Fun fact: eastern red cedars are one of the only Christmas tree species native to North Texas, and their classic shape makes them the perfect decorative focal point for your holiday home!

Don’t buy a Christmas tree with dry branches! If any part of your live Christmas needs water, there will be greater demand for water from the entire tree. All branches on a healthy Christmas tree should be flexible and green. If any of the needles are brittle, then it is likely that your Christmas tree is too dry and will not last long. A way to check the health of a live Christmas tree is by gently pulling one of the branches toward you. The tree is already drying out if you’re left with a handful of needles.

How to Care for a Live Christmas Tree  

Now it’s time to set up your Christmas tree and give it a good healthy life!

Give it a Cut  

Once you’ve found the perfect tree, give it a fresh cut when you bring it home. Make a new cut at least 1 inch from the bottom, or ask the farm to do it for you before hauling it away. This will allow the tree to absorb the water it needs to survive. After the tree has been trimmed, it will quickly form a layer of sap to heal the wound. The sap prevents it from absorbing water in the tree stand, and even the thinnest layer can inhibit water and cause it to die too soon. After it has been cut, keep the trunk of your live Christmas tree submerged in a bucket of water until you’re ready to place it in your home.

Choose a Good Location  

The first thing you need to do is find the right spot for your Christmas tree. Make sure this spot is free from any heat sources. This includes fireplaces and heat vents. This will prevent your tree from getting too dry and help it live longer. You should avoid placing your Christmas tree near any windows, especially southern-facing ones, since these areas will be exposed to excessively cold temperatures throughout the winter.

Keep it Hydrated!  

Before you can enjoy your live Christmas tree, it’s critical to water it. A layer of dried sap can form over the cut stump in as little as four to six hours if the water level drops below the tree’s base. If sap has developed, another fresh cut will need to be made, or the tree will begin to wilt and drop its needles. Keeping your Christmas tree stand filled with water will ensure your tree stays fresh and lasts throughout the holidays.

A live Christmas tree will absorb a gallon of water or more in the first 24 hours and one or more quarts per day afterward. Water keeps the tree fragrant, prevents branches from drooping, and reduces needles from drying out and falling, creating a mess in your home.

Check Your Stand

Christmas tree stands are not created equally. Some stands are better than others at holding trees in place. Make sure to check your stand before you put your tree in it. If the stand is not sturdy, then consider getting a new one. Make sure your stand can hold at least 1 gallon of water.

Decorate!

Now that your tree is in place and hydrated, it’s time to start decorating! Check out our guide on How to Hang Your Christmas Tree Lights With Ease for more info on Christmas tree lights! Please ensure that your ornaments are placed high enough so that children and pets can’t reach them.

Christmas Tree Care Tips:

• Christmas trees can last anywhere from two weeks to six weeks, depending on how well you care for them.
• Trim your tree when you take it home
• Constantly water your tree!
• Keep the tree away from any heat sources.

• Check your stand before placing your new Christmas tree
• Make sure to decorate responsibly!
• Always ensure your Christmas Tree is safe and secure before leaving the house.

Once you’ve taken care of all the necessary tasks, it’s time to sit back and enjoy your beautiful Christmas tree. Make sure to take some time to relax and soak up the holiday spirit.

North Texas Tree Care Experts  

Taking care of your trees will help you get the most out of your investment and ensure they live up to their full potential. This applies to live Christmas trees and the trees in your landscape. This season, give your trees the gift of good health by scheduling ISA Certified Arborist tree care services today. TreeNewal is a full-service sustainable tree care company offering residential and commercial tree services in Dallas, Fort Worth, Argyle, Denton, Flower Mound, Southlake, and Westlake. Our Certified Arborists and Dallas tree care experts offer industry-leading plant health services ranging from tree nutrition, insect and disease management, soil conditioning, tree trimming, tree pruning, and more. Call (817) 592-6846 for the best tree care services in Dallas/Fort Worth