In fact, the closest I got to an annual trek was the one we made into the attic to find the box that held our easily assembled, never needing water, and always beautiful plastic tree. This tradition ended once I married, and I had to learn the finer points of caring for a living evergreen in my house for the better part of a month each year. Whether you’re going out and cutting one off the stump from a local tree farm or purchasing a live tree already cut, here are a few tips to help you keep your tree healthy and green until Christmas or later.
If you’re purchasing a tree already cut, it’s hard to tell exactly how long those trees have been there and how long they’ll last once you buy them. It’s a good idea to do a “freshness test” before buying any tree like this.
One test you can perform is to hold a branch about six inches from the tip, pulling your hand towards the tip allowing the branch to slip through your fingers. Very few green needles should come off in your hand if the tree is fresh. Some trees are different in how they retain needles. For example, a Leyland cypress will not lose as many needles as a fir or spruce so take that into consideration when doing this. Another test you can perform is to lift the tree a couple of inches off the ground and let it down abruptly on the stump.
The outside green needles should not fall off but remember that inside needles do turn brown and shed naturally.
Once you’ve cut your tree or purchased it and brought it home, you have to continually care for it. The first thing you should do before bringing it in or setting in a stand is to check the end of the cut on the stump. Trees have the ability to seal off a cut with sap to prevent losing moisture. This would also prevent a tree from taking up water in a tree stand. It is a good idea to make a fresh cut about ¼” up from the previous cut before setting the tree up. If you have a few days before bringing it in to decorate it, leave it outside in a bucket of water out of the sun and wind. People often ask about adding other products to the stand’s water to extend the life of the tree. This may be true for cut flowers but research has shown that nothing is better for a cut tree than dihydrogen monoxide (for you chemistry buffs out there). Just adding water is as good as anything.
Trees love water. Your Christmas tree can take up a gallon of water the first 24 hours and another two pints to one gallon the next day. Checking the stand regularly and making sure it never runs out of water is important. If the stand were to run out of water, the cut may seal up with sap and possibly need cutting again to open it back up. Placing the tree away from heat sources in the house will help keep it from drying out too quickly.
Once you’re done with your tree, the county offers several locations for you to have it chipped. If you happen to have a fish pond, they also make for great fish habitat on a pond bottom.
If you wish to find a local tree farm to cut your own tree, several are located locally. You can contact the Georgia Christmas Tree Association or check the Georgia Farmers and Consumer Market Bulletin published by the Georgia Department of Agriculture to find local tree farms.
Going out and finding that perfect Christmas tree might or might not be more adventurous than traveling up to your attic. But with these steps, there’s hope you only have to make one trip for a tree this season.
Adam Speir is Madison County’s cooperative extension agent for agriculture and natural resources
