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Follow these tree care tips to keep your Christmas tree healthy and your home safe during the holiday season.

  • Put trees in water. This is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
  • In selecting a tree, make sure that the "handle" at the bottom is long enough to allow the trunk to fit into you tree stand. Otherwise, it will be necessary to remove large branches near the base, which could ruin its appearance.
  • Make a fresh cut to remove a 1/4" to 1" thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree. If you use a "center pin" stand, make sure the hole is drilled in the stem after it is trimmed
  • Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible.
  • To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter.
  • Use a stand that fits your tree. Some stands have circular rings at the top, so the ring must be large enough for the trunk to go through the hole. Other stands are open, which may allow a greater range in trunk size. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.
  • Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.
  • Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.
  • Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.
  • Use of miniature lights will produce much less heat and reduce drying of the tree.
  • Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.
  • Do not overload electrical circuits.
  • Always turn off the lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.
  • Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.
  • Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.
  • Living Christmas trees should be allowed to condition in an unheated garage for a couple days before being brought into a heated room and again before being brought outside. Display the tree in a cool location away from direct sunlight and heat sources and ensure that the root ball is always kept moist. Do not keep the tree inside for more than 10 days because exposure to the warm temperatures may cause the dormant tree to break buds and start to grow, which is undesirable at this time of the year.