Fresh Cut Christmas Tree and Keep it Fresh
By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener
The cut fresh Christmas trees have arrived and they’re almost too
fresh this year! I say that because a
tree’s freshness is determined by its weight, which comes from the water
content of the tree; therefore, the fresher the tree the heavier it is. A truly
fresh tree should be so heavy that it is difficult to lift and maneuver. A tree’s weight is the secret to finding the
freshest tree on the lot.
Now, to deal with just one
tree and get it home for the holidays is no big deal; even a 12-foot tall tree
can be manipulated successfully with a minimum of grunts and groans. However, owning the largest Christmas tree
lot in town and unloading hundreds and hundreds of trees: “Oh, my aching back!” This is why Watters
invested in a fancy tree-wrapping machine that bundles even huge trees. Bundled trees are easier for the staff to
help customers tie to the tops of their vehicles and bundled trees are easier
for customers to move into their living rooms.
Three factors play important
roles in how long a tree will maintain its freshness: the moisture in the tree
itself, placement of the tree in your home, and the local weather. If a couple of good moist storms roll through
the area while the tree is set up, the extra moisture keeps the trees from
drying out too quickly. Of course,
there’s nothing we can do about the weather, but we can control the other two
factors that will extend the enjoyment of our Christmas trees. These tips also apply to fresh garlands and
wreaths.
Tip 1: A needle from a fresh
tree should have good color, emit a strong fragrance, and bend rather than
break. To test the tree of your choice simply grasp a needle between your thumb
and forefinger and bend it.
Tip 2: A fresh tree should
have good weight, an indication that the tree has plenty of moisture left in
its trunk and limbs. The larger the
trunk, the more moisture the tree can retain; just make sure the trunk isn’t
too large for your tree stand. This might
be the year to upgrade your stand.
Tip 3: Make a fresh cut
across the base of the trunk and immediately place it in a large container of
lukewarm water. If the water level is
allowed to drop below the cut, a seal will form reducing water uptake, so check
the water level often.
Tip 4: Add liquid ‘tree
preservative’ to you tree stand’s water basin.
An additive keeps the tree pores open and allows water uptake deeper
into the tree. Stay away from adding
sugar or carbonated drinks to the water; they simply clog the tree’s system and
reduce water absorption. Trees can drink
over a pint of water each day, so check the water level daily and supply fresh
warm water as needed. All the more
reasons for a tree stand that holds a gallon or more of water. A good stand
should easily hold a tree straight up without special tie downs and hold 1½
gallons of water. Again, this may be the year to upgrade your stand.
Tip 5: Place the tree away
from south-facing windows, close or remove heat sources blowing directly onto
the tree, and keep it away from a fireplace or stove. All of these sources of warmth can zap
moisture from the tree in a matter of days.
Tip 6: ‘Wilt Stop’ is my
choice to guarantee that a tree will last through the New Year. This clear spray coats the needles with a
festive sheen that prevents the tree from perspiring, so it maintains its
freshness longer. If you have worried
about your tree being a fire hazard, and you should, I highly recommend this added
step. Our family tree will be an eight
food Nordman Fir that will be sprayed with Wilt Stop. It provides peace of mind and reduces needle
cleanup after the celebrating is over.
And, yes, Wilt Stop has the same effect on fresh wreaths and garlands.
Tip 6: When setting up your
tree, use the largest ‘Christmas tree bag’ you can find. This gigantic white trash bag is placed under
the tree and can even be used as the tree skirt. When ready to take down the tree, pull this
huge plastic bag over the tree so that it is swallowed up, preventing needles
from invading your rugs and upholstery.
On the top of my list of dreaded household jobs is vacuuming tree
needles out of the carpet. A Christmas
tree bag eases this headache so much that it’s easily worth the expense of the
bag!
Insider Tip for a Living Tree: When
using a living tree indoors for Christmas, then planting it after the holiday
season, remember to water it with a tray of ice cubes once per day. Use a deep
plastic saucer under the grower’s pot to keep water from seeping though the
roots, out of the pot, and staining the floor.
Until next week, I’ll see you
amongst the Christmas trees.
