Are you putting up a real Christmas tree this year? Artificial trees have many benefits, but the scent of a real Christmas tree in your home, the holiday adventure of heading out to find the perfect tree, and the appeal of buying local and supporting local growers are all great reasons why people purchase real Christmas trees. If you’ve never “gone natural” before, or haven’t done so for many years, it might seem like a lot of extra work and not worth the effort, but here are some helpful tips from Michigan State University Extension to help make the process memorable and successful.
Before you head out to purchase your real tree, make sure you know the spot in your home where you will set it up. Keep it away from heat sources such as furnace vents and fireplaces to prevent the tree from drying out faster. Make sure you have adequate floor space for the height of your tree. The taper of real trees can vary, but the ratio of tree width to height is usually two to three – meaning a six-foot tree will need a space about four feet in width. Remember, trees out in the open appear smaller than they will in your home. Measure the height of your ceiling and measure the height of the tree before you cut or purchase.
When buying a real Christmas tree, there are two options: pre-cut and choose-and-cut. You can purchase pre-cut trees at many locations – big box stores, garden centers, and freestanding tree lots, to name a few. MSU says pre-cut trees are typically grown on large farms that specialize in wholesale production. Trees are harvested and shipped to retail outlets. Choose-and-cut farms tend to be smaller tree farms where you can wander fields of trees and cut the one you choose.
If purchasing a pre-cut tree, do the pull test. Pull on the end of a branch gently with your thumb and forefinger. A fresh tree will hold on to its needles. If the tree loses needles when you pull, keep looking. If you cannot put your real tree up right away, keep it in a protected, unheated area like a garage or on a porch with the cut end in a bucket.
Before placing your fresh tree in its stand, cut one inch or so off the base. Christmas trees are conifers that have resin canals in their trunks. When the tree is cut, the resin will start to block some of the pores and slow water uptake. A fresh cut will help increase water uptake by your tree and keep it fresh longer.
When setting up your tree, MSU says you will need at least two people to help with a traditional, screw-in stand. Place the stand on the bottom of the tree before you stand it up. Have one person adjust the tightening screws on the stand while a second person adjusts the tree. It can help to have at least one more person to stand away from the tree and check for straightness. Keep the bailing twine on the tree until it is in the stand and upright. This will keep the tree compact, making it easier to bring inside the house and situate on the stand.
Keep your real Christmas tree well-watered. This is the most important part of keeping your tree fresh throughout the season. Cut Christmas trees can absorb up to a gallon of water a day, depending on trunk diameter. Make sure your tree stand has sufficient water capacity for your tree, and check the stand every day. Don’t let the water level fall below the level of the trunk bottom. According to research, plain fresh tap water is best – no need to add any “home remedies” to the water such as sugar, aspirin, bleach, or lemon-lime soda pop. Enjoy the beauty and majesty of your real tree!
