Caring for a Fresh Cut Christmas Tree

There’s nothing that says Christmas more than the heady aroma of a fresh cut Balsam or Fir. These seasonal emblems are so surrounded in holiday tradition that fresh cut trees for Christmas date back to the 16th century. They are not without challenges though, from the occasional needle in your sock to the need to water them they do require a little more effort than an artificial tree. We’d like to think there’s nothing better than the real thing so it’s well worth it! Here are a few tips to keep your tree looking phenomenal right until the New Year.

• Slice off a little bit of the bottom before placing in the tree stand, this opens the pores of the trunk and allows for better water absorption
• Water, Water, Water – we can’t stress this enough a tree can easily sop up a gallon of water in as little as a day
• Keep the water level ABOVE the base of the trunk at all times
• If you don’t mind the potential for a little mess, should some one dump the tree (we’re looking at you cats) – try potting soil in the stand as it will help retain moisture
• Do not place your tree near a heat source such as a vent or fireplace, this is a sure fire way to dry it out!
• Some people swear by a tablespoon of sugar or corn syrup but we’re not convinced it makes much of a difference

What do you do? Any tricks up your sleeve? We’d love to hear about them!