Christmas Tree Accessories

Here are some great tips to make sure your tree lasts through the new year!

Enjoy!

1. Put a fresh cut on the bottom – Either have your tree lot do this, or do it at home with a chainsaw or handsaw. Cut at least 1″ from the base. Make sure you get your tree into water within 1 hour of being cut. Otherwise, sap will seal the fresh cut, and it won’t be able to drink water.

2. Climatize – taking a tree from the bitter cold into a warm house is very traumatic to the tree. Setting it in a garage, carport or by the front door for several hours or overnight will greatly increase the longevity of your tree. But be sure to put it in water as soon as possible after cutting the bottom. A great tip is to put the tree stand on as soon as you get it home, as you climatize it.

3. Water daily – expect a healthy tree to drink up to several quarts of water a day at first. It will usually drink less after a week or so, depending on humidity. Make sure the water level never drops below the base of the tree, or you risk the base sealing. If it does, simply put a new cut on the bottom. (No need to put aspirin, sugar or 7-up in the water – a tree likes to drink plain water, that’s what it’s used to)

4. Placement – Try to put your tree in a moderate temperature area. Avoid placing the tree close to either a cold window or a heat source.

5. Don’t leave the Christmas lights on unattended. Even with the best, newest lights – it’s better safe than sorry.

That’s it!

For additional tips and suggestions, visit Readers Digest Tree Guide.

PS – Don’t forget to recycle your tree when the holidays are over. Contact your local boyscout troupe – they offer tree recycling in early January. If you’re in Central, OR, the number is 541-385-2672.