While artificial Christmas trees have grown in popularity by and large over the last couple decades, there are still many of us who opt for the fresh aroma of live Christmas trees in our living rooms as we deck the halls with greenery, décor, and so much more. From firs to balsams and pines, there’s nothing quite like making the yearly pilgrimage to the local Christmas tree farm, Greenhouse (in our case), or venturing into the woody forests near us to find the perfect tree to adorn with lights and ornaments in our homes.
Whether you’re heading out to purchase your first live, fresh-cut Christmas tree or have opted to choose fresh-cut Christmas trees for years, we’re here to sprinkle your brain with a bit of expert knowledge about selecting the right Christmas tree and offer our sage advice on how to keep your Christmas tree thriving throughout the holiday season.
Shopping for the Right Tree
If you’ve got a local greenhouse or Christmas tree farm near you, finding the right Christmas tree that suites your unique taste and decorating aesthetic is incredibly simple. Here at Jolly Lane Greenhouse, we carry a variety of high-quality, live trees that are hand-picked based on their quality and overall health. Before heading out to purchase your live Christmas tree, make sure to take note of the space you hope to place it. Use a tape measure to get a feel for the adequate tree height and width range you can shop in, as well as the means by which you can get your new tree in your house. Also, don’t forget to consider the means by which you’ll transport the tree to your home. If you’re lucky and shop at a place like Jolly Lane Greenhouse, you may be able to have your live Christmas tree delivered right to your front door. If not, make sure your vehicle is equipped to transport your tree. The last thing you want is to get your tree home, only to find that it’s too tall or can’t fit through the door! Once you’ve accounted for these things, the fun begins.
Once you arrive at your local live Christmas tree retailer, take your time perusing their selection. As you’re browsing various species of trees, you’ll find that each tree has its own unique charm and feel. The tree you choose should accent the space it’s placed in and maintain its own integrity with your Christmas decorations on it. If you’re looking for a tree with strong branches, consider looking into fir species.
Taking Care of your Live Christmas Tree
Once you’ve transported your new, fresh-cut Christmas tree to your home or business, it’s important to maintain all of the necessary care techniques necessary to keep your tree thriving throughout the course of the holiday season. Here are our top care tips:
- Make sure you’ve got the right water-filled stand for your Christmas tree. As you might expect, live Christmas trees need to be continually watered to maintain their composure and vibrancy. Without adequate water, your tree may begin dropping dried needles and dull in color. Nobody wants a dead Christmas tree before the holiday even arrives! As a base, regularly check your tree stand to ensure it is filled with water at all times.
- If you cut your tree on your own, make sure you cut off a 0.5 to 1 inch disk off of the base. Doing this will make sure your tree has adequate access to water once it has been placed in a base.
- Place your fresh-cut tree in water no more than 8 hours after you purchase it or cut it down.
- Place your live Christmas tree away from sunlight and other heat sources. There’s no easier way to rapidly dry out your live Christmas tree than to place it in direct sunlight or near warm heating sources like vents, heaters, or fireplaces. By reducing the temperature of the room your Christmas tree is in, you can also help reduce the rate at which your tree dries.
- ONLY USE UL-approved lighting on your tree to avoid the potential for fires. Hot Christmas lights and fresh-cut trees do not mix well together and can create a dangerous fire hazard for your home and business. Take note of your Christmas lights to ensure they are UL-approved before hanging them. Additionally, be diligent about turning your Christmas lights off when you’re not in the room. We’ll interpolate Smokey Bear’s age-old saying “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” – in this case, only you can prevent Christmas tree fires.. ‘nuff said.
- DO NOT burn your Christmas tree once the holidays have passed. Most communities have city ordinances in place for the proper disposal of live Christmas trees. Stick on the safe side.
If you’d like to learn more about how to properly take care of your live, fresh-cut Christmas Tree, come see us at Jolly Lane Greenhouse in Rapid City, South Dakota or give us a call at 605-393-1700! Happy Holidays.