Buying a Christmas Tree

Editorial Idea - Choosing the correct tree and keeping it fresh is important for a cut tree. A tree will absorb over four litres of water in the first 24 hours and more the day after.

Buying a Christmas Tree from a Tree Lot

Before going shopping for a Christmas tree determine where you will place it. Then choose a tree that is the right height and diameter for your location. Choosing a tree that is the right size is important, cutting large sections from the top or bottom may change the natural cone shape of the tree.

Keeping a cut tree in tip-top shape throughout the holidays in your home will depend on how long it was on the lot. The longer on the lot, the quicker the decline. So look for a tree with an appealing color, agreeable fragrance and freshness.

There are several ways to check for freshness. One way is to gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull. A few needles may come off. If a lot of needles come off, the tree is not fresh. Another way is to bend a needle. The needle should bend and not break. If the needle breaks, the tree is not fresh.

Another freshness test is to look around the base of the tree and see if there is an excessive amount of needles on the ground.

The last test for freshness is to shake or bounce the tree on the ground to see if needles are firmly attached. It is best to do all the tests to be sure you are buying a fresh tree.

If the tree lot offers to bale or net your tree (a system where you use nylon net to hold all the branches in), it will make the tree easier to transport. It you have to pay a little extra, it is well worth it. The netting makes it much easier to get the tree through the doors and halls.

If you are not going to put your tree up immediately when you get it home, put the tree in an unheated area such as a porch or garage to protect it from the wind and sun until you are ready. If the tree is to remain in this sheltered place for a couple of days, put the tree in a bucket of water (unless there is a chance the water will freeze and your tree becomes frozen in a giant ice cube).

Before you set up the tree, make a fresh 45 percent cut across the base of the trunk (just above the original cut) and place the tree in a tree stand that holds at least two or three litres of water.

Real trees need water daily. Never let your tree go dry. A seal of dried sap will form over the cut stump if the water drops below the base of the tree cut, preventing the tree from absorbing water when the tree stand is refilled. If the seal does form, another fresh cut will need to be made.

A tree will absorb over four litres of water in the first 24 hours and one or more litres a day thereafter. Water is important because it will prevent the needles from drying and the boughs from drooping.

Place your tree out of a high traffic area and away from any heat source such as fireplaces, heater vents, space heaters, television sets, etc. If your tree is leaning, secure it with some twine or strong string.

One final thought, the longer the tree is in your home, the drier it will become, and the greater the fire threat.