How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last Longer
Taking the family to choose a fresh, green Christmas tree is one of the joys of the holiday season. But how do you keep your Tannenbaum beautiful and hydrated at home? That’s the question.
Read on for tips on how to make your tree last longer this holiday season.
Dry, indoor heating can cause your tree to shed needles almost immediately. There are several ways to help prolong the freshness of your Christmas tree. Below are a few DIY solutions:
1. Spritz Your Tree
Prolong the life of your Christmas tree by misting twice a day. Unplug the lights. Fill a spray bottle with water and spritz your tree all over. The needles will take in much-needed moisture.
2. Choose a Long-Lasting Tree Variety
Sturdy Fraser firs are known for holding their needles well, plus they have that perfect ‘Christmas tree’ shape. If fir is out of the budget or hard to find, a pine variety is another excellent option.
Pine trees also hold needles well. Stay away from Norway spruce or spruce varieties as they are susceptible to needle cast disease.
Here’s a list of the most popular fir tree varieties to look for:
- Fraser fir- Flat, dark blue-green needles (1 to 1 1/2 inches long) with a silver sheen underneath
- Balsam fir- Flat, dark green needles (3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long) rounded at the tip. Emits a pleasing tree fragrance
- Noble Fir- Bluish-green needles (1 inch long) with a silvery appearance. Works well for heavy ornaments and for making wreaths.
- Douglas Fir- Blue to dark green needles (1 to 1 1/2 inches long). One of the most popular Christmas tree species in the U.S.
- White Fir- Blue-green needles (1 to 1 1/2 inches long). Attractively shaped with a lovely green, citrusy aroma.
Tips for Buying a Christmas Tree From a Tree Lot
- Call the lot and ask when the first or the next shipment will arrive. You may need to buy your tree a little early, but it will be the freshest possible.
- Do a needle pull test- gently hold a branch in your hand and slowly pull toward you. If several needles end up in your hand, move on to another tree. The freshest trees will have needles that are firmly attached to the branch.
- Ask the lot attendant: where the tree is from, how long it’s been on the lot, and when it was cut.
The more answers they have, the more you can be assured of buying the freshest tree possible. For more tips on buying a Christmas tree from a lot, click here.
3. Visit a Cut-Your-Own Tree Farm
There’s nothing more fresh than choosing and cutting that perfect tree, straight from the field. A Christmas tree that’s been sitting on a lot is usually cut down one to two weeks earlier.
Plus there’s no guarantee that the tree has been watered properly.
4. Trim the Trunk and Water Daily
When a tree sits on a lot for several days, the cut at the trunk tends to ‘clog’, making it difficult for the tree to take in water. Trimming a half-inch or so from the trunk will allow the tree to take in the water again.
Christmas trees require lots of water to keep them green and supple. A Christmas tree usually absorbs about a quart of water for each inch of trunk diameter.
Make your tree last by checking the tree stand daily to ensure there’s plenty of water. Upping the humidity in the room will also help keep your tree hydrated.
5. Tree Water Additives
There’s a wide variety of opinions on what is the best additive if any to add to the tree’s water. A few choices to make your Christmas tree last include:
- Crushed aspirin (1 tablet to a quart of water)
- White vinegar (1 teaspoon to a quart of water)
- Bleach (1 teaspoon to a quart of water)
- Commercial Christmas tree food
- Vodka
- 7-Up
- 1500 mg of crushed vitamin C tablets to the tree water every two days.
From choosing the right type of tree to watering your tree regularly, there are many simple tips to keep your Christmas tree in good shape. Each of these little tips and tricks will make your Christmas tree last into the New Year.
