Keep your tree alive with these Christmas tree store survival tips

Christmas is just around the corner yet again and nothing says “holiday spirit” quite like picking out the Christmas tree at the indoor, or outdoor Christmas tree store. A tree can be fun and exciting or elegant and appealing. The twinkle of Christmas lights behind a backdrop of the snowy outdoors brings out the inner child in all of us. Memories of sitting by the fire sipping hot cocoa waiting for Christmas Day to finally arrive.

Since the Christmas tree is such a vital part (and one of the main decorative symbols) of the holiday, keeping it alive as long as possible should be a high priority. Your tree’s survival depends on what type of tree you would like. If you want a live tree this holiday season you have to main choices:  a cut tree, or a potted one.

You will find many options at a Christmas tree store, whether it is a large indoor retail store that has been set up for the season, or a temporary, awning-covered outdoor seller.

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Cut tree:

When picking out your perfect Christmas tree, make sure that you pay special attention to the bottom of the tree.  You want to make sure that there is enough trunk available to display your tree in a stand.

Once you get your perfect tree back to your home, put it in water right away. For your tree to soak up as much water as it needs, cut a 1″ piece off the trunk. A fresh cut will be able to soak up more water. Your tree will soak up a lot of water after it’s just been cut, so make sure you keep it watered.

When you bring your new tree into your home, pick the coolest room for it to stay in. Warm temperatures (such as keeping it near the fireplace) will only dry out your tree, causing it to loose needles and become unattractive. Plus, a dry tree is a fire hazard. When picking out lights, try to stay away from large bulbs, these will just dry out the needles.

Make sure that you keep your tree watered, and that the water level never goes below where the tree was cut. If it does, sap could form at the cut and reduce the water flow. If that happens, just cut another piece off the bottom of the trunk.

Potted tree:

Live, potted trees are becoming increasingly popular and can easily be found at a local Christmas tree store. These trees will keep looking great long after the holiday season. As with a cut tree, make sure that you keep your potted Christmas tree in the coolest room possible. Put only miniature lights on your tree, this won’t dry it out as quickly as the larger bulbs will.

If you plan on replanting your tree outside once the holidays are over, don’t keep your tree indoors for longer than a week. The warm, indoor temperatures will cause your tree to feel like it’s spring, which will rapidly reduce the tree’s ability to thrive outside.

Dig a hole for your tree before you bring it home. If you wait too late to find a place for your tree, the dirt could be frozen and difficult to dig through. Make the hole twice as wide as the root ball itself, this will let your tree’s roots flourish.

Caring for your tree (whatever type you choose) is as simple as keeping it in a cool place, and keeping it watered. Trees can soak up more water than we’d like to think, so check it often–especially if your home is warm.

Keeping your tree alive for the whole holiday season brings just a little more magic into the celebrations.

References:
Caring for Christmas tree
Consider a Living Christmas tree