CARING FOR YOUR FRESH TREE

To some, Christmas just isn't Christmas without a real Christmas tree. The following are a few hints to help you select that perfect tree whether you purchase it from a neighborhood lot or a Christmas tree farm.

• Decide on where you will place the tree. Will it be seen from all sides or will some of it be up against a wall? Be sure to choose a spot away from heat sources, such as TVs, fireplaces, radiators and air ducts. Place the tree clear of doors.
  
  
• Measure the height you have available in the room where the tree will be placed. There is nothing worse than bringing a tree indoors only to find it's too tall. Take a tape measure with you and bring a cord to tie your tree to the car.
  
  
• Do a freshness test. Gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Very few needles should come off in your hand if the tree is fresh. Shake the tree on its stump. You should not see an excessive amount of green needles fall to the ground. Loss of interior brown needles is normal and will occur naturally over the lifetime of the tree.
  
  
• Do a little research on different Christmas tree types. Take a look at our Meet Our Trees section for more on this. Some Christmas tree varieties will hold needles longer than others.
  
  
• If you are not putting the tree up right away, keep it in a sheltered, unheated area such as a porch or garage to protect it from the wind and sun until you are ready to decorate it. Make a fresh one inch cut on the butt end and place the tree in a bucket of warm water.
  
  
• When you decide to bring the tree indoors, make another fresh, straight cut across the base of the trunk (about a quarter inch up from the original cut) and place the tree in a tree stand that holds a gallon of water or more. If you need a stand, you will find one of the best and easiest to use at our farm.
  
  
• Warning: Keep the tree stand filled with water. A seal of dried sap will form over the cut stump in four to six hours if the water drops below the base of the tree, preventing the tree from absorbing water later when the tree stand is refilled. If a seal does form, another fresh cut will need to be made. Commercially prepared mixes; aspirin; sugar and other additives added to the water are not necessary. Research has shown that plain water will keep a tree fresh.
  
  
• A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water or more in the first 24 hours and one or more quarts a day thereafter. Water is important because it prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and the boughs from drooping. Water also keeps the tree fragrant.
  
  
• In addition, keep your tree away from heat and draft sources like fireplaces, radiators and television sets. Test your light cords and connections before hanging them on the tree to make sure they're in good working order. You don't want to use cords with cracked insulation or broken or empty sockets. Also be sure to unplug the lights before you go to bed or leave the house. Never overload electrical circuits.
  
  
• It's a nuisance to water a Christmas tree once it's decorated with a tree skirt and surrounded by presents. Here's an easy solution, supplied by Gene and Marian Anderson of Guse Hardware in Minneapolis: Buy a funnel and a 3 to 4 foot length of vinyl tubing to slip over the funnel outlet. Fasten the funnel/tube with a twist-tie or twine in an out-of-the-way but reachable part of the tree. Extend the tubing down the tree trunk and into the tree stand reservoir. Now you can water the tree through the funnel without bending over or disturbing the tree skirt or its ornaments. Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune
  
  
• Recycle your tree after Christmas. Many communities will pick up trees and turn them into chips. You might put the tree in your back yard and place bread and suet among the branches for the birds.