If you’re planning on using a live cut Christmas tree this Holiday season, here are a few tips to keep them fresher longer during the holidays.
For a cut Christmas tree:
-Start with as fresh a tree as possible…buy from a local reputable source…and then check for freshness with the needle checks…pull and see if any come off in your hand…shake the tree and see how many needles fall…and bend the needles for flexibility. Remember, some needles will fall, but should not be in excess.
-Measure to make sure it’ll fit in your house, and bring your stand along just to make sure it fits. We’ll actually put it in the stand when we get home.
-Have a fresh cut put on the bottom, if you’re going right home and putting the tree in the stand with water. If not, wait until you’re ready to put it up, and then put a fresh cut on the base.
-Spray your tree with WiltStop…this is an all natural product that seals in the moisture in the trees needles, helping them to not dry out so quickly.
-And keep water in the tree stand at all times. Never let your tree run out of water. Once it dries out, the bottom will seal over and water uptake will decrease or stop totally.
I always get asked whether or not to use Tree Preservatives in the water, or if I have any homemade concoctions to put in the water. Well, research has shown one thing to be consistent in keeping a cut tree fresher…water. If tree preservatives or homemade recipes work for you, use them. But the key factor is water. By the way, I will use hot or boiling water when replenishing the water in the stand. It helps to keep the bottom from sealing over…or at least it works for me.
