After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.
If worn, replace with a new set.ĭon't overload electrical circuits with too many lights.Īlways turn off the lights when leaving the house or when going to bed. Miniature lights produce less heat and reduce drying of the tree.Īlways inspect Christmas light sets prior to placing them on the tree. Some consumer flame retardants can damage needles and actually increase the rate of moisture loss from trees. Clean water is all that is needed to maintain freshness.ĭisplaying trees in water with proper care is the most effective way of maintaining a tree's moisture. These products supposedly block the evaporation of water from the surface of foliage, but in reality they have little effect.Īdding water-holding gels to the stand is not beneficial and they can actually reduce the amount of water in the stand available to the tree.ĭon't use additives in the water, including floral preservatives, commercial tree preservatives, molasses, sugar, bleach, soft drinks, aspirin, honey, and other concoctions. Drill 4-6 holes around the side of the trunk below the water level.Īpplying film-forming anti-transpirants to the tree does not have a significant effect on the rate of moisture loss from the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.ĭrilling multiple holes 3/8" - 1/2" approximately 1/2" deep may improve water intake. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.Ĭheck the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree.
Lowering room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day. Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. Other stands are open, which may allow a greater range in trunk size. Some stands have circular rings at the top, so the ring must be large enough for the trunk to go through the hole. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. The tree may need to be supported in some manner to keep if from tipping over.
#SHOULD I DRILL HOLES IN MY CHRISTMAS TREE FULL#
Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.
If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Don't bruise the cut surface or get it dirty. Most species can go 6-8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. If you use a "center pin" stand, make sure the hole is drilled in the stem after it is trimmed Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Make a fresh cut to remove a 1/4" to 1" thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Otherwise, it will be necessary to remove large branches near the base, which could ruin its appearance. In selecting a tree, make sure that the "handle" at the bottom is long enough to allow the trunk to fit into you tree stand. Below are a number of tips relating to the care of displayed trees:ĭisplaying trees in water is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your cut-tree. When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water.
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