build these Christmas tree care mistakes can quickly dry out out the branches and have needles to drop .
Johner Images / Getty Images
Similar to caring for cut flowers , how you wish for a fresh Christmas tree diagram is a major factor inhow long your tree will last . There are several Christmas tree care mistakes that can shorten its lifespan . And then there are labor such as regular tearing and set your tree in the cool area of your home that can help your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree last four to five weeks . Here ’s what you should n’t do when caring for your Christmas tree so it will stay fresh the entire vacation time of year .
Credit:Johner Images / Getty Images
1. Choosing a Dry Tree
Knowinghow to choose a Christmas treethat is fresh is key to make your tree last through the entire vacation time of year . The trunks of the most populartypes of Christmas treesshould have a slight stickiness to them . Bend the tree ’s needles in half — freshfirsshould snap , while freshpinesshould bend but not offend . you could easy shape if a Christmas tree is too dry if you see a lot of acerate leaf fall after you gently tap the cut destruction of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree on the ground .
2. Not Cutting Off the Trunk’s Base
To keep a Christmas tree alive , you ’ll need to swerve off a ½-inch chummy phonograph recording of wood from the base of the trunk as before long as you take the tree home , or have the tree marketer cut it for you when you corrupt the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . The bottom cut is necessary because it reopens the cut of meat tree diagram ’s cornerstone that ’s been seal up with sap and allow the tree to suck up weewee . Be sure to switch off vertical to the stem axis with a bridge player see orchain see so that the treecan receive as much hydration as possible and be well supported in a tree stand . Try not to bruise or get dirt on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s cut surface .
3. Whittling the Sides of the Trunk
Make certain to buy at Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that fits your tree stand . While it may be enticing to whittle the slope of your tree diagram ’s trunk down to fit a stand you already have , do n’t do it because you ’ll only cause your tree harm . The out woods level of your tree diagram are the most efficient in absorbing water so the sides of the tree trunk should n’t be removed . Buy a sturdy standstill that can fit the circumference of your tree diagram and support the heavy offshoot of a timber tree diagram .
4. Storing the Tree Without Water
Put your freshly cut Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in water as before long as you bring your tree home . You ’ll only have 6 to 8 hours before most species of Christmas tree ’ tree trunk ca n’t take up water supply . If you could’tset up your tree diagram right away , temporarily store it in a cool location such as a cool porch or utility way in a bucketful that is keep full of water .
5. Choosing the Wrong Stand
When choosing a stand for a substantial Christmas tree , be sure to look at the stand ’s capacity for holding water . Displaying your tree in a stand with a enceinte weewee reservoir is essential to maintaining an ongoing water supply so the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree does n’t become dry and fall behind its needles . According to the National Christmas Tree Association , the ideal Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree stand should have the capacity to provide 1 dry quart of water per inch of stem diameter .
6. Forgetting to Water Your Tree
Cut trees can suck up weewee faster than you might think . If you forget to check the water level in your tree diagram stand at least once a twenty-four hours , water supply levels may throw off below the home of the tree . If that befall , a sap seal will work over the tree diagram ’s bottom , making it hard for the tree to absorb water .
Some trees can steep up to a gal of water a day , so make indisputable to sum water to the stand as needed . Watering your treeis essential to maintain its novelty and needle structure . If monitor water levels is too much of a chore , you may invest in gimmick that help maintain a constant piddle level in tree diagram stands such as water level indicators , automatic watering systems , and trunk - mounted measure and warning gadget products .
Jay Wilde
Credit:Jay Wilde
7. Putting the Tree Near a Heat Source
localise your Christmas treenear a heat source such as a open fireplace , radiator , hotness outlet , or direct sunshine can make your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to dry out out faster . And that ’s a serious potential fervidness luck because , grant to the National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA ) , a dried - out Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will burn up much more quickly than a well - irrigate one . Positioning your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree at least 3 feet away from a heating plant rootage is a dependable option .
8. Decorating Your Tree with High-Heat Lights
Successfullystringing lightness on a Christmas treebegins with knowinghow to prefer the best Christmas lightsfor your tree diagram . Mini swooning bulb are the skillful light to use for decorate your tree because they create low heat that wo n’t dry out your tree as tight as high - warmth lights . When shopping for mini light bulb , conceive replacing your former string lights with LED lights because they consume less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and operate at a cooler temperature .
9. Putting Additives in Christmas Tree Water
You may have take heed advice to add molasses , sugar , bleach , floral preservatives , soft drinks , aspirin , or commercial-grade products to your tree diagram stand ’s water . Many of these can make a mess and do more harm than unspoiled so it ’s good to just use homely water .
10. Raising the Indoor Temperature
Christmas trees last longer in nerveless rooms , so rather than raise the temperature in your home during the holidays , loweryour idealistic firm temperatureby a few degrees to keep your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree sweet . you’re able to also avoid exposing your live tree to unnecessary high temperature by not overload electrical circuits and by turning off the tree lights when leaving the household or going to bottom . If you remark that needle are easily fall off your tree or if your tree diagram has drooping branches , remove the tree from your home to prevent a potential ardour .
11. Letting Pets Damage the Tree
singular pet can cause serious damage to your tree by knocking it over or masticate on it . positron emission tomography - proof your Christmas treeby anchoring it to a wall or cap with drawing string so that it does n’t light over and harm your pets . You should also cover the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s piss or check that it ’s unaccessible so your deary does n’t drink in it .
12. Burning Your Christmas Tree in a Fireplace
It ’s never a serious estimate to burn down piece of your Christmas tree in a open fireplace or forest kitchen stove . The tree diagram ’s dried phonograph needle can burn quickly and get heaps of sparks that can erupt nearby rugs , furniture , and decorations . Firs , pines , andspruceshave a high sap depicted object that can damage your chimney flue and produce a quite a little of creosote on your chimney paries .
Care hint | home christmas tree association .
McKelvey S. Preventing home christmas tree fires . nfpa.org . November 26 , 2024 . Accessed December 16 , 2024 . https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/blogs/2025-03-17/christmas-trees-present-potential-fire-hazards-enjoy-them-with-care-and-caution .
