Caring the Tree

A freshly cut Christmas tree is still alive. Like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers, it must be put in water to keep it beautiful and for it to last longer. A well watered tree is also safer because it is much less inflammable. Here are a few tips on how to care for the tree during the Holiday Season.

1. Shake the tree before taking it inside
Even if most evergreens do not lose their needles all at once in fall like other trees do, they constantly renew their needles. The old needles often remain stuck between the branches. Their presence is normal and does not mean that the tree is too dry. It is therefore always preferable to vigorously shake the tree or to hit it on the ground a few times before bringing it in the house.

2. Make a fresh cut at the base of the trunk
Immediately after bringing the tree into the house; you should always cut a few centimeters at an angle at the base of the trunk. This helps to remove the dry sap that prevents good absorption of water. As quickly as possible after the fresh cut, you must put the tree in water. If the trunk has time to dry, you must make a new fresh cut. The same procedure applies to trees that are kept outside at temperatures above freezing.

3. Keep the tree outside as long as possible
If the tree must be stored a certain time, it is better to keep it outside. It will not dry up as long as it is kept in a cool place shaded from the sun and wind. A non-heated porch or covered patios are perfect locations. As soon as it is brought inside, the tree should be put in water, in a location with little heat, like a basement or veranda, before being put up in the house. This way it will gently adapt to the temperature change.

4. Water it well
You must give a lot of water to the tree to keep it fresh and to help it keep its needles longer. A tree that is 2 meters tall needs about two to four liters of water per day. The container in which it is set must be able to contain at least four liters of water, but it must be refilled often because of the dry atmosphere in most houses. The water level must never go below the base of the tree.

5. Safety
A tree that is placed in water keeps its humidity and is not more dangerous for fire than any other house plant. For good prevention, it must always be placed far from sources of heat, including radiators and the TV set. It must never be placed near a chimney or wood stove. And lastly, you must never put lit candles in the tree. Electric lights are much safer; but it is important to make sure that they are approved by the Canadian Standards Association.

An adult should examine them to assure the quality of the wires and plugs. Then, each member of the family must make sure that the lights are turned off before leaving the house and before going to bed.

Also note that it is useless to add products to the water to prolong the life of the tree, or to spray it with fireproofing products.