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How to Care for Your Farm-Grown

Fresh Christmas Tree

When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your displayed trees. Below are a number of tips relating to the care of displayed trees:

1. Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.

2. Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. 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.

3. Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Don't bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.

4. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.

5. To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.

6. Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.

7. Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.

8. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.

9. Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of 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.

10. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.

11. Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.

12. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.

13. Do not overload electrical circuits.

14. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.

15. Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.

16. Go to www.realchristmastrees.org and type in your ZIP code to find a recycling program near you.

17. Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.

Prepared by Dr. Gary Chastagner and Dr. Eric Hinesley
Edited by the Scientific Research Committee of the National Christmas Tree Association

reprinted from the National Christmas Tree Association website at www.christmastree.org

Quick Tree Facts

• There are approximately 30-35 million Real Christmas Trees sold in the U.S. every year.

• An estimated 175,000 Real Christmas Trees are sold via e-commerce or catalogue and shipped mail-order. 

• North American Real Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. Eighty-five percent (85%) of artificial trees sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China.

• Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.

• Consumers can locate the nearest recycling program by logging onto www.realchristmastrees.org or calling 1-800-CLEANUP.

• For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, up to 3 seedlings are planted in its place the following spring.

• There are about 21,000 Christmas Tree growers in the U.S., and over 100,000 people employed full or part-time in the industry.

• It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of average retail sale height (6 - 7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years.

• The top Christmas Tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington. (See a complete list of all 50 states ranked by several variables.)

• The top selling Christmas Trees are: balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine.

   

  USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) and your local Christmas Tree professional.

  reprinted from the National Christmas Tree Association website at www.christmastree.org