How to Care for Your Real Christmas Tree this Holiday

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 Christmas tree brings an element of cheer and festivity that cannot be found anywhere else. Live Christmas trees bring the outdoors inside and can brighten up a room. However, it is essential to properly take care of your live Christmas tree to ensure that it lasts throughout the holiday season. Here are some tips for how to care for your real Christmas tree:

How to Pick a Good Tree

When selecting a Christmas tree for your home, it is essential to pick a tree that has been grown locally. It may seem clichéd, but freshness does make all of the difference! If you are buying from a farmer’s market or local farm, it is advised to select a Christmas tree based on smell rather than looks. This will ensure the freshest and healthiest Christmas tree for your home.

Make sure you have an area in mind before you select a tree. If you fall in love with a tree that’s too big for your space, you may have to get creative to make it fit. It is better to pick a smaller tree and have some space left over than to choose a large tree and overcrowd your home.

Shake the tree before you take it home. This will help eliminate a big mess when you bring your tree home! If the needles fall off while walking, they will likely leave a trail on your carpet or floor. By shaking the tree before taking it home, all of the loose needles should be shaken off and lost.

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 have a green color. If any of the needles are brittle, then it is likely that your Christmas tree is too dry and will not last long.

How to Care for Your 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, make sure to give it a fresh cut when you bring it home. Make a fresh cut at least 1 inch from the bottom. This will help the tree absorb water more efficiently. Even if your tree was freshly cut from the farm, it’s always a good idea to give it a good trim at 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 windows since these areas will be exposed to excessively cold temperatures throughout the winter months.

Keep it Hydrated!

Once you’ve found the right spot for your Christmas tree, it’s time to start watering it. Make sure to give your Christmas tree plenty of water, especially in the early weeks after you bring it home. The best way to do this is to use a soil moisture meter to check the moisture levels in the soil. If the soil is dry, then give your tree a good soak! When watering your tree, stick with plain tap water, and avoid using anything else.

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 enough water. A good stand should hold at least 1 gallon of water.

Safety First

It’s important to keep safety in mind when it comes to Christmas trees. Ensure that any lights placed on the tree are working and that there are no defects before placing them on your tree. Never leave lights on when you’re out of the house or asleep. Timers are great to use with your lights, so you don’t have to worry about turning your lights on or off.

Decorate!

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

Keep in Mind…

• Christmas trees can last anywhere from two weeks to six weeks, depending on how well you take care of them.
• Trim your tree when you take it home
• Always water your tree!
• Keep the tree away from any heat sources.
• Check your stand before putting on a new Christmas Tree!
• Make sure to decorate responsibly!
• Always make sure your Christmas Tree is safe and secure before you leave 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.

When the holiday season is over, make sure to recycle your Christmas tree. Be sure to remove all of the lights before recycling! When you’re ready to take down your tree, cut any branches that are longer than six inches so they can be recycled more easily.

While TreeNewal can’t help you care for your indoor Christmas Tree, we can help take care of your trees in your yard! Give us a call and schedule an appointment for any and all of your tree care needs.

To learn more about How to Care for Your Real Christmas Tree this Holiday, call our Argyle and Southlake-based teams

at tel:(817) 592-6846 or send us a message.

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Learn more about TreeNewal’s ISA Certified Arborists!

Our Dallas/Fort Worth-based tree doctors can explain how sustainable tree care services add more value to your bottom line.

Healthy trees, healthy lives.