Caring for Christmas trees by Lisa Guthrie Deabill
With Christmas right around the corner , it ’ s time to head into the woods , or the store , to find the perfect evergreen . A few years ago , my family bought a pre-cut Christmas tree that was full and beautiful . But within a week or two , the needles started dropping like snow . Instead of leaving the tree up until after the New Year , we took it down a few days after Christmas . So , what did we do wrong ? I went in search of answers to make sure it doesn ’ t happen again .
According to the
National Christmas Tree Association , use a tree stand that holds about one quart of water per inch of stem diameter . Cut a half inch of wood from the trunk to allow the tree to take in water easily . Don ’ t drill a hole in the base of the trunk because it does not help it drink water . The temperature of the water does not matter . But never let the water level go below the base of the trunk . And regardless of what you may have heard , preservatives like aspirin are not needed . Plain water will do the job . To prevent your tree from drying out , lower the room temperature and keep it away from heat sources like fireplaces . Using miniature lights that give off minimal heat will also prevent needles from falling off .
To keep your tree for years to come , you may want to consider one with roots that is in a pot or burlap . That way , you ’ ll be able to plant it when the holidays are over . Keep in mind , a living tree requires a lot of care . The National Christmas Tree Association suggests that you wrap the root ball in plastic or place it in a tub while it ’ s in the house . And do not overwater it . It should be damp , not flooded . When it ’ s time to remove the tree from your house , get it acclimated to colder temperatures . Put it in a sheltered area for a few days . Then plant it as soon as possible . You ’ ll want to plan ahead and dig a hole in the fall before the ground freezes .
If you ’ re getting rid of your tree after Christmas , don ’ t kick it to the curb for trash collection . Some communities turn old trees into mulch for gardens . Others use them to prevent barrier erosion along shorelines and rivers . Zoos and animal sanctuaries often take trees too . Animals like to snack on them . Others use the trees as shelter or play with them . To find places that will recycle your tree , check out
Earth911 .
Whatever you do , resist the urge to burn your tree in the fireplace . Dry trees burn hot and fast . That can quickly lead to an out-of-control fire . Also , popular trees like fir , pine and spruce produce a lot of creosote buildup in chimneys . Sparks from needles can ignite the creosote and cause a chimney fire . The sparks can also fly outside the fireplace causing nearby rugs and furniture to catch fire . And hot sap from trees can explode and cause burns .
Regardless of how you decide to recycle your tree , make sure you remove all ornaments , lights and tinsel before recycling it and giving it back to the environment .
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