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From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nEvery year, somewhere between 25 million and 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States. <\/p>\n
If you\u2019re one of the people who decorate for the holiday with a freshly cut Christmas tree, you might be wondering how to keep it looking good all the way through Santa\u2019s visit \u2013 and maybe even a little beyond.<\/p>\n
Curtis VanderSchaaf is a forestry specialist at the Mississippi State University Extension Service who knows a thing or two about conifers. <\/p>\n
The Conversation US<\/em> asked him for guidance on how to keep a fresh green Christmas tree from becoming a giant pile of brown needles, for as long as possible. <\/p>\nWhether you end up with a Douglas fir, a Scotch pine, a Leyland cypress, a pi\u00f1on or any other evergreen, he says, the quality of care you provide is a major factor in the prolonged freshness of your tree.<\/p>\n
What to consider when choosing a tree<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Select a tree that looks fresh and whose needles are not brittle. You want one that has a strong fragrance and a dark natural green colour. Avoid bored holes in the wood, signs of bugs \u2013 like spider egg sacs \u2013 and other marks of pest damage. This advice holds whether you\u2019re chopping down your own tree or buying it from a retailer.<\/p>\n
Different species of trees have various colours, shapes, branching habits, needle types, scent and even bark type. Depending on what\u2019s available to you, this comes down to personal preference.<\/p>\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>To keep a cut tree fresh, you need to provide adequate water (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIf you can, pick a tree that\u2019s been harvested as recently as possible and has been watered and kept cool. Often, a tree\u2019s freshness is directly related to the moisture content of its needles. If the stump \u2013 where the tree\u2019s trunk was cut \u2013 is sticky with sap, that\u2019s a good sign.<\/p>\n
Give the tree a good shake, even a hard pound on the ground. That will dislodge any animal stowaways. If a ton of dead needles or dry limbs fall out, keep looking.<\/p>\n
Getting your tree home<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Tree farms and retail lots will net your tree. It\u2019s a lot easier to transport with the branches tucked in. If you\u2019re going to bring it home on top of your car, consider using a tarp to keep scratches and sap off your vehicle. Make sure the tree is securely tied down, with the trunk facing forward to reduce wind damage to the branches. Take it easy on the road.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re not bringing your tree indoors right away, store it in a cool, damp area that is blocked from wind and out of the sun.<\/p>\n\nAbout the author<\/h2>\nCurtis VanderSchaaf is an Assistant Professor of Forestry at Mississippi State University. <\/p>\n
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Make a fresh, straight-across cut on the butt of the tree about a half-inch to 1 inch (1 to 3 centimetres) above the original cut. After any cut, a tree tries immediately to seal off, or compartmentalise, the injury, which makes it hard for the tree to take up water. So as soon as you make the new cut, place the tree in a bucket of warm water. Make sure it stays full as the tree drinks.<\/p>\n
If you have allergies, you may want to spray the tree with a garden hose to remove residual pollen or dust \u2013 as long as the weather\u2019s not freezing.<\/p>\n
Setting up your tree inside<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n To keep a cut tree fresh, you need to provide adequate water. Use a tree stand with a built-in reservoir, and make sure it\u2019s always filled. A rule of thumb is 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. A freshly cut tree may use one-half to 2 gallons of water the first day, but this amount will taper as the tree acclimates to its indoor environment.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t need to worry about adding anything to the water. It seems to just be an old wives\u2019 tale that anything \u2013 including corn syrup, aspirin, vodka, soda pop, sugar or any specialised preservatives or gels \u2013 beyond H\u20820 helps prolong the freshness of the tree. No special temperature is necessary either, just not freezing cold or boiling hot.<\/p>\n
Do not drill a hole in the bottom of the tree trunk, thinking it will improve water uptake \u2013 it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
If you have to whittle down the sides of the trunk to fit, the tree is too large for your stand. It\u2019s the outer layers of wood that take up most of the water, so if you shave them off your tree will be in trouble.<\/p>\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Everyone has a different style when it comes to Christmas decorations (Getty\/iStock)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSecure the tree in its stand, ensuring the freshly cut stump is submerged. If it\u2019s ever out of the water for more than about a quarter-hour or so, the cut starts the healing and sealing process and you should think about making a new cut.<\/p>\n
Keeping the tree fresh into the New Year<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Once your tree is all set up, your goal is to keep it from drying out. Remember, you want your tree to be fresh, but more importantly, you don\u2019t want to create a fire hazard.<\/p>\n
Keep the tree at least 3 feet (1 meter) from any heat source and minimise direct sun exposure. Lowering the temperature in the room may also help to maintain freshness.<\/p>\n
Make sure any lights and their cords are in good condition and turn them off when you aren\u2019t present. Unplug completely if you are leaving the house or going to bed. Occasional breaks from using the lights may help slow the tree\u2019s drying-out process. And make sure your smoke detectors work and you have a fire extinguisher on hand just in case.<\/p>\n
If properly cared for, a fresh tree will last for three to four weeks, often even five. If it starts to get dry at any point, the safest move is to get rid of it. Chipping it for compost is the most environmentally sustainable option when it\u2019s time for the tree to go.<\/p>\n
Then you can start enjoying the lengthening days and look forward to the next holiday on your calendar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Every year, somewhere between 25 million and 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States. If you\u2019re one of the people who decorate for the holiday with a freshly cut Christmas tree, you might be wondering how to keep it looking good all the way through Santa\u2019s visit \u2013 and maybe even a little beyond. Curtis VanderSchaaf is a forestry specialist at the Mississippi State University Extension Service who knows a thing or two about conifers. The Conversation US asked him for guidance on how to keep a fresh green Christmas tree from becoming a giant pile of brown needles, for as long as possible. Whether you end up with a Douglas fir, a Scotch pine, a Leyland cypress, a pi\u00f1on or any other evergreen, he says, the quality of care you provide is a major factor in the prolonged freshness of your tree. What to consider when choosing a tree Select a tree that looks fresh and whose needles are not brittle. You want one that has a strong fragrance and a dark natural green colour. Avoid bored holes in the wood, signs o…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9711"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}