Christmas Tree Care Tips to Keep Your Holiday Centerpiece Fresh

There’s nothing quite as festive as the fresh, rich scent of a live Christmas tree during the holiday season. But may of us like to adorn our homes with these fresh decorations well the week of Christmas. If you’re planning to bring home a live tree this year, take a minute to read through these eight helpful Christmas tree care tips to keep your holiday centerpiece looking beautiful and fresh all season long.

1. Choose the right size tree stand.

Your Christmas tree is a living plant, and that means it needs enough water to stay hydrated, so you’ll need a large enough tree stand for the water it needs on a regular basis. Regardless of the style of stand you choose, make sure it can hold a minimum of 1 gallon of water.

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2. Let your tree acclimate.

Broad swings in temperature can negatively impact your tree’s health. Think about how unpleasant it is for us to go from one extreme to the other. Before you haul the tree into a warm house from a chilly environment, let it rest in an unheated area, like a garage, for a day or two to prevent unnecessary stress, which can result in extra needle loss and accelerating drying. Just make sure to keep it upright in a bucket of fresh water while it acclimates.

3. Cut the base of the tree.

Even if you cut the tree at the farm, you should cut the trunk again before bringing it into the house. A fresh, straight cut against the base will remove any unwanted resin, which can seal up the trunk and prevent the tree from drinking up the water it needs throughout the holiday season. A 1-inch cut is all you need.

See more: 3 Unique Upcycled Holiday Crafts to Make This Year

4. Water your tree regularly.

The general rule of thumb for watering a Christmas tree is 1 quart per inch of the trunk’s diameter. If you don’t water it often, the resin you made sure to remove when you trimmed the trunk will return and make your tree dry up (and become a serious fire hazard). Don’t worry about any fancy additives – fresh water is all you need to keep your tree hydrated and healthy. Just make sure you check the water levels each morning and refill the stand as necessary.

See more: 5 Reasons to Buy a Real Christmas Tree this Year

5. Keep away from fire and other heat sources.

This might sound obvious, but a surprising number of people consider nestling their live Christmas tree up against a brick fireplace. After all, isn’t that the iconic scene? Nevertheless, placing these beautiful trees next to a heat source is a sure-fire way to dry them out or, even worse, send them up in flames.

6. Use a humidifier.

Does your house struggle with extra-dry air in the winter? Some experts suggest running a humidifier in your home during the holidays to add moisture to the air. In addition to providing a more comfortable environment for you, this can also extend the life of your Christmas tree.

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7. Remove the tree before it dries.

Live trees add beauty, fragrance and a cozy ambience during the holiday season. And it can be hard to remove them before they dry out all the way. But if you wait too long to say goodbye to your tree, you’re almost guaranteed to end up with a trail of dead pine needles from the living room to the back door.

8. Recycle your Christmas tree after the holidays.

There are a few sustainable ways to dispose of your tree. You can add it to your compost pile (or start a new one), turn it into fresh mulch for your garden beds, or inquire with your local town or city about their disposal options. Many areas offer pick-up services and will happily recycle trees from members of the community.