Holiday preparations are in full swing, which means that it’s time for Christmas tree shopping! If you want to impress Santa this year, check out our tips on how to choose and care for a real Christmas tree.
Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree
Everyone wants to prolong the holiday season for as long as possible. The first step towards keeping your tree fresh for a long time is to pick a healthy one at your local Christmas tree market. Here are some tips that will help you make the right choice:
- Look at the ground. If there are very few needles surrounding a tree, this is a good sign.
- Pay attention to the needles on the tree itself. A lot of brown needles indicate that the tree won’t last long. You can even give it a little shake to see how many needles will actually remain.
- Direct sun is harmful to Christmas trees and shortens their lifespan. Keep this in mind and pick a tree that was kept in shade.
Christmas Tree Care
When provided with the right conditions, your Christmas tree will last for at least 5 weeks. These tips will help you create the best environment for the tree:
- Remove about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the bottom of the trunk so that the tree can absorb enough moisture.
- Put the tree into a container that holds no less than a gallon of water. Keep an eye on the water level in the container every day, as the bottom of the trunk is should be submerged all the time.
- Christmas trees last longer in a cold environment, so keep them away from radiators or other heat sources.
- As soon as you start noticing that your Christmas tree is withering away, it’s time to remove it. Use the tree as mulch or compost it. You can even make an air freshener out of needles or add them to tea. Your local authorities may have some disposal options as well.
Potted Trees
A tree in a pot is a great option if you would like to keep the holiday spirit around for way longer than usual Christmas trees allow. These trees have similar requirements but need additional care if planted in your garden.
- Choose a smaller tree (3-5 feet or 1-1.5 meters) as it will require less maintenance. The bigger the tree, the more water it needs.
- Keep the tree outside as long as possible. Potted Christmas trees shouldn’t be kept in the house for more than 12 days.
- Potted trees are not drought-tolerant and will start losing needles if not watered regularly. You can avoid this problem by simply checking the soil every day and giving your tree a drink whenever it feels dry. Watering frequency depends on the temperature in your house. Make sure that the planter has a drainage hole to let excess water escape.
- Place your potted tree as far from heat sources as possible because they prefer cooler temperatures.
- After the holidays, the tree will make a great addition to your garden. Pick a spot that doesn’t receive direct sunlight during summer and water the tree regularly. Unfortunately, your Christmas tree may get too big to be brought indoors next year because the roots will spread out too much for them to fit in a container. You can still remove some roots, pot the tree, and bring it inside, but you won’t be able to repeat this process next year.