Caring for Your Fresh Cut Christmas Tree
The key to having a safe Christmas tree is to choose one that is
fresh and has been properly stored, then keep it that way. Fresh
Christmas trees that are kept watered will not combust easily.
The best varieties are Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Scotch
Pine, Balsam Fir and White Pine. These last longer and remain fresh
much longer than other varieties.
Choose a tree that has been stored properly out of wind and in
a shady location. Trees stored out in the wind and sun are drier.
Trees should also not be packed too tightly together to avoid broken
branches. Ask if there has only been one shipment of trees or several
since the beginning of the season.
Once you've found a tree you like, check it for freshness by taking
the following steps. Shake the tree gently, looking for falling
exterior needles. Don't be alarmed if some of the older, more interior
needles fall as this is normal. Check individual needles for freshness
by breaking off a needle near the end of a branch. If it snaps when
you bend it, the tree is too dry. If the tree is fresh, the needle
should bend slightly without breaking.
The trees found at Southern States stores are obtained from quality
growers within the region to ensure the trees Southern States sells
are the freshest and highest quality. Christmas tree growers benefit
the environment in a number of ways. Each acre of trees produces
enough oxygen per day for the needs of 18 people. Trees cleanse
the air of CO2 and other pollutants. For a Christmas tree farmer
to harvest each year, only 10% of the trees on the farm are cut
in any given year because it takes 10 years for a tree to reach
a retail height of 6 feet. This means 90% of the land of Christmas
tree farms is always planted in trees. The trees are havens for
many species of birds and small mammals.
Make sure your tree is tightly wrapped in netting for the trip
home, especially if you are tying it to the top of your car. This
will prevent the ensuing speed-created winds from drying it out.
If you cannot set up your tree immediately upon bringing it home,
store it in a cool place out of wind and sun, preferably in a dark
garage. If the temperature of the storage space is above 32°
F, cut the base of the tree about and inch above the original cut,
at a slight angle. Immediately place the base of the tree in water.
It is important to choose the location in which your tree will
be displayed carefully. Avoid setting up your tree near heat vents,
fireplaces and windows. These all create either heat or draughts
which can dry your tree and make it lose its freshness. A cooler
corner of a room is most preferable. This will help to reduce water
loss from the tree stand and prolong the freshness of the tree.
The tree stand is also very important. It should hold at least
a gallon of water at all times to prevent drying of the tree. During
the first week, a fresh cut Christmas tree can soak up 12 to 14
gallons of water per day. After the first week, the water consumption
rate drops dramatically to 3 to 7 gallons over the next 4 weeks.
Take the decorations off the tree and the tree out of the house
as soon as possible after the holidays are over.
Real Christmas trees are completely biodegradable. Most municipal
landfills chip them for use in mulch. If you have acreage, your
tree can become cover for wildlife in your woodlot or fish pond.
It will biodegrade slowly over time.
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