For some, the Christmas season just isn’t the same without a real freshly cut Christmas tree. Whether you cut it down yourself or pick it up from your local garden center, you want your tree to remain fresh throughout the holiday season.
Selecting a Freshly Cut Christmas Tree
Some of the most popular types of Christmas trees include the following:
Noble fir – a classic known for its strong branches and pleasant fragrance.
Fraser fir – silvery-green soft needles and one of the best when it comes to needle retention. Stiff stems with an open growth habit displays ornaments well.
Blue spruce – features stunning silvery-blue foliage and stiff branches that hold ornaments well.
Scots pine – a very traditional choice with dense, deep green foliage and sturdy branches that can handle heavy ornaments.
White pine – dense branching and long, soft needles but with stems that are a little flimsy and best suited to lightweight ornaments.
Balsam fir – a long-time favorite for a freshly cut Christmas tree for its lovely, pyramidal form, sturdy branches, and intense fragrance.
Once you’ve selected your perfect tree, proper care is crucial to maintaining its freshness throughout the holiday season.
How to Care for a Freshly Cut Christmas Tree
Proper maintenance will help keep your tree beautiful and safe from dehydration. Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your freshly cut Christmas tree:
- When you are ready to place your tree in water, give it a nice straight fresh cut about one inch above the previous cut. This will improve the water uptake but is only necessary if the tree has been cut for over four hours.
- Typically a good tree stand will hold at least one gallon of water. If you’re tired of spilling water when filling your tree stand, buy a funnel and a length of tube that will fit over the end of the funnel. This may take a little longer to water but saves time in cleaning up messes.
- For the first few days your tree may take up more water than is typical. Check the water level daily and always keep the base of the tree submerged in water.
- Sugar and other additives in the water are not necessary. Plain water will keep a tree fresh.
- Situate your tree where it won’t be exposed to intense sunlight or a heat vent. Both can dry out the foliage resulting in high water consumption and needle drop.
- If your tree has been properly cared for, it can last up to and sometimes beyond five weeks before drying out. Do yourself and your floors a favor and be sure to take down the tree before it dries out!
Disposing of a Fresh Christmas Tree
There are several ways to dispose of your Christmas tree responsibly once the holiday season comes to a close.
- Check with your local municipality or waste management service online or by phone for specific drop-off sites, curbside pickup dates, or designated recycling centers.
- Use the search tool at Earth911 to locate recycling options near you.
- If your tree is free from ornaments, tinsel, paint and any other sprays such as tree desiccants or pesticides, you may be able to donate it to a farm with goats. Goats especially enjoy white pine, cedar and fir trees and these trees offer an array of nutrients to supplement their regular diets. Use community social networks to inquire about local goat farms that take Christmas trees or check with farm supply stores that could have contacts in your area. Buying from a local Christmas tree farm allows you to ask the management if the trees have been chemically treated.
- Cut up your Christmas tree and add it to your compost bin.
- Remove all ornaments and tinsel and secure your tree in a pot of heavy soil, tree stand, or in the ground outdoors and use it for a winter bird feeder. “Decorate” it with pinecones stuffed with peanut butter and rolled in bird seed, suet in mesh bags or homemade suet cakes, and garlands made from popcorn, fruits, and berries. Compost or recycle your tree in the spring when birds’ natural food sources become available.
Use Poinsettias to Enhance Your Holiday Décor
When it comes to Christmas décor, freshly cut Christmas trees and potted poinsettia plants are a perfect pairing. Poinsettias add life, color, and a refreshing garden feel to your home in winter. Learn how to get the most out of your potted poinsettias in our guide, Taking Care of a Potted Poinsettia Indoors.
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