It takes a little effort and some TLC to get a Christmas tree looking ready for guests and photos—but it’s worth every ounce of water (and every scattered pine needle) to keep a live Christmas tree fresh and vibrant through the holidays.
From how to choose the right stand to how often to water a Christmas tree, it is important to properly care for your tree. Ahead, an expert shares their best tips on how to keep your live Christmas tree fresh and thriving all season long.
- Marsha Grey, executive director of The Real Christmas Tree Board, a national promotion and research organization that is overseen and authorized by the USDA and funded by North American Christmas tree growers
Start With the Right Christmas Tree
Your local Christmas tree lots, farm, or nursery may sell only a couple of tree varieties, but if you have a broad choice, go for “true firs,” like Noble, Fraser, Nordmann, and Turkish because they’ll last the longest (four to six weeks). Trees with the second-longest life span include Douglas fir, Scotch pine, balsam, and grand fir. Spruce trees last only two or three weeks.
If you can, shop where cut trees are kept under shady tents or wrapped in burlap—not open to full sun, where they can dry out. Purchasing your tree from a local farm will ensure that the tree you’re purchasing didn’t come from out of state. Out-of-state trees may experience lots of winds during transit that can cause your tree to be prematurely dry.
Fresh Tree Characteristics
When searching for the right Christmas tree, here are some things to look for:
- A green, healthy tree with little to no browning
- Noble, Fraser, Nordmann, or Turkish Tree
- Stored out of the sun or in a shaded area
- Needles do not fall off easily when shaken
Trim the Trunk
Just as flowers need a fresh cut before being placed in a vase, Christmas tree trunks need a trim in order to help them absorb water. “You’ll want to make a fresh cut to remove about a half-inch-thick disk of wood from the base of the tree trunk before putting it in the stand,” says Marsha Grey, executive director of The Real Christmas Tree Board. “You can even ask the tree lot, farm, or store to help you with this task before you take it home.”
Get Your Tree in Water ASAP
After the seller cuts the trunk for you, place the tree on the car roof with the bottom facing forward to minimize needle loss. Get the tree in water within four to six hours of a fresh cut.
If you’re not putting it up right away, set your tree in a bucket of water in a cool, dark place, like the garage. Ideally, you should get your tree in water “as soon as you get it home, and check the water daily to make sure the level doesn’t go below the base of the trunk,” says Grey.
Purchase the Right Kind of Tree Stand
It’s best to use a metal Christmas tree stand since plastic ones will break over time. As for size, Grey recommends a tree stand that provides one quart of water per inch of trunk diameter. This will ensure it holds enough water to ensure proper hydration.
Before you bring your tree inside, but while the netting is still on, place it in its stand to minimize the mess in your living room. Tighten the bolts about 75%, bring the tree in, set it in place, and finish securing. Finally, fill it with water.
Avoid Heat Exposure
It matters where you put your live Christmas tree—not just for looks but for safety and convenience, too. If you can, keep your tree away from too much direct sunlight or heat exposure, which can dry it out more quickly.
And while it’s consoling to remember that trees don’t technically start fires, here are some of Grey’s top tips for avoiding an accident.
- Keep your tree away from major sources of heat (radiators, fireplaces, lamps, stovetops).
- Inspect your light sets for wear and tear before using them on the tree.
- Don’t overload electrical circuits.
- Always turn off your tree lights when leaving the house or going to bed.
“As long as you’re keeping the water level consistent and turning off the lights when you go to bed, your tree will stay safe and well hydrated,” says Grey.
Wrap Your Tree With LED Lights
Surprisingly, the type of Christmas lights you decide to adorn your tree with can play a factor in how long your tree lasts. LEDs use at least 75% less energy than traditional lights and last a whopping 25 times longer. LEDs won’t emit nearly as much heat as incandescent bulbs, which will help your tree not dry out as quickly and reduce the risk of a fire.
Some people still prefer the glow of old-school varieties, but if you’re ready to make the money-saving change, try Invisilites, tiny bulbs on a wire so thin, that it disappears into the tree.
Water Your Tree Daily
You already know that you should keep a tree away from heat sources (vents, fireplaces, wood stoves), both for fire safety and staying power, but you may not know that a tree needs about a gallon of water every day.
Check the water level daily and take note: The trunk’s cut surface should never be exposed to air. Plain tap water is best, so skip the chemicals and the homespun add-ins. Your best bet is to make a habit of it (check in the morning while the coffee’s brewing or every night before heading to bed).
Christmas tree care takes a lot of hands-on, up-close-and-personal work, so you may get sticky tree sap on your hands along the way. Grey recommends simply using hand sanitizer to remove it. You can also try baby oil or olive oil, which helps remove sap while moisturizing the skin.
