

- #Do i need to water my christmas tree how to#
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It seems to just be an old wives’ tale that anything – including corn syrup, aspirin, vodka, soda pop, sugar or any specialized preservatives or gels – beyond H₂0 helps prolong the freshness of the tree. You don’t need to worry about adding anything to the water. A freshly cut tree may use one-half to 2 gallons of water the first day, but this amount will taper as the tree acclimates to its indoor environment. A rule of thumb is 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Use a tree stand with a built-in reservoir, and make sure it’s always filled. To keep a cut tree fresh you need to provide adequate water.
#Do i need to water my christmas tree plus#
koldunova/iStock via Getty Images Plus Setting up your tree inside

Get the freshly cut tree into water immediately or the wound will start to seal, preventing any water uptake. If you have allergies, you may want to spray the tree with a garden hose to remove residual pollen or dust – as long as the weather’s not freezing.
#Do i need to water my christmas tree full#
Make sure it stays full as the tree drinks. So as soon as you make the new cut, place the tree in a bucket of warm water. After any cut, a tree tries immediately to seal off, or compartmentalize, the injury, which makes it hard for the tree to take up water. Make a fresh, straight-across cut on the butt of the tree about a half-inch to 1 inch (1 to 3 centimeters) above the original cut. If you’re not bringing your tree indoors right away, store it in a cool, damp area that is blocked from wind and out of the sun. Make sure the tree is securely tied down, with the trunk facing forward to reduce wind damage to the branches. If you’re going to bring it home on top of your car, consider using a tarp to keep scratches and sap off your vehicle. It’s a lot easier to transport with the branches tucked in. Tree farms and retail lots will net your tree. Wicki58/iStock via Getty Images Plus Getting your tree home Netting the tree makes it easier to transport and helps prevent damage to the branches. Depending on what’s available to you, this comes down to personal preference. This advice holds whether you’re chopping down your own tree or buying it from a retailer.ĭifferent species of trees have various colors, shapes, branching habits, needle types, scent and even bark type. Avoid bored holes in the wood, signs of bugs – like spider egg sacs – and other marks of pest damage. You want one that has a strong fragrance and a dark natural green color. Select a tree that looks fresh and whose needles are not brittle. Whether you end up with a Douglas fir, a Scotch pine, a Leyland cypress, a piñon or any other evergreen, he says the quality of care you provide is a major factor in the prolonged freshness of your tree.
#Do i need to water my christmas tree how to#
asked him for guidance on how to keep a fresh green Christmas tree from becoming a giant pile of brown needles, for as long as possible.

If you’re one of the people who decorate for the holiday with a freshly cut Christmas tree, you might be wondering how to keep it looking good all the way through Santa’s visit – and maybe even a little beyond.Ĭurtis VanderSchaaf is a forestry specialist at the Mississippi State University Extension Service who knows a thing or two about conifers. Every year somewhere between 25 million and 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States.
