


Without that water, the tree dries out, drops needles, and dies off quickly. It might surprise you to know that a Christmas tree can absorb up to a gallon of water within the first 24 hours of being brought home. It will slow down the drying out of your tree and make it last much longer. It’s best to keep the tree in a cool room. This also includes vents or heat registers. The fireplace creates a lot of heat and dry air that will almost literally suck the life and moisture out of the Christmas tree. Picking a location for the treeĪ Christmas tree next to a fireplace is picturesque and looks terrific on Christmas cards, but this is actually the worst place for a tree. However, if this happens, you can cut the stump again to create a new fresh cut that will soak up the water. Unfortunately, this won’t allow the tree to absorb water when you place it in the fresh-cut stand. Additionally, you’ll want to put the stump in a bucket of water to prevent sap from covering the end of the tree. Instead, keep it in a cool location like a porch or garage. If you aren’t bringing your new Christmas tree inside right away, avoid storing it in a warm place. This is critical in maintaining a tree that’s healthy and lasts throughout the season. In addition, they’re more suited for fresh trees and have a water basin where you can keep the tree watered. A decent fresh-cut stand is going to save you time and a headache. However, this will cost you in the long run. It might be tempting to try and stand the tree up on your own or use a stand you’ve had in previous years for fake trees. You’ll also notice the texture of the healthy needles is plumper than those of a more brown, dry tree.ĭon’t start with a bad tree and try to fix it at home invest in a healthy tree that’s going to be much easier to keep alive and looking its best all season long. Even if the needles don’t fall off, but they feel brittle, move on.Ī healthy tree will have only a tiny amount of brown needles and a vibrant and fresh color. If you see more brown needles than green ones, move on. If you get a handful of needles when you brush the tree, move on. You’ll also want to look for healthy needles this means running your hands over the branches and noting how many needles fall off. Sunlight can dry out a tree, and you might pick one that hasn’t started showing the signs yet but will start dropping needles as soon as you get home. While this can still happen, you might want to try and direct the kids to a healthier-looking tree, or else you might have a Charlie Brown Christmas! Look for trees that aren’t displayed in the sun. When you go tree shopping, it can be fun to bring the whole family and maybe even let the kids choose the tree. The easiest way to ensure you have a lovely-looking tree for those Instagram Christmas morning photos is to select a healthy tree. Keep up on maintenance once you’re home.
