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Does anyone have any tips on making a real Christmas tree last longer?


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  • yes and mean to do it as i write,buy a nice tree now and let it grow just right,stay fresh for year to year. Put planter in wheel base for easy moving each year


  • Putting domestos in the water and a little sugar is meant to make flowers last longer. I also remember my mum using lemonade in vases – assuming it would work similar for xmas trees. Keep out of the sun and away from heaters


  • Loved the smell of a fresh Christmas tree! Hope your tree lasted? :)


  • My Dad put the tree in a big enough bucket with water in it and sugar. It lasted for a good month.


  • The best and easiest way is to buy get a conifer in a pot. (you can get big and small ones) and they will last forever, then you can just move it outside and leave in the pot or plant it in your garden. A LOT LESS MESS and simple.


  • well i got a real chrissie tree a few years back and it lasted a month without me making anymore effort than sticking it where i wanted it. we got a fresh one and only got rid of it because we stayed at a holiday house for a month and were leaving. only have to pick up the needles that fall


  • dont put it in a sunny place as it will dry out quickly and drop needles fast! keep it cool!


  • I use a bucket of water with some large stones or bricks in it (rather than a bucket of damp sand) and keep topping it up. Just make sure no little ones can get near it. Put the tree in a position out of the sun and get one that is freshly cut (rather than one that’s been cut a few days)


  • Thanks for asking this question. Planning to retire the plastic Christmas tree and go with the fresh option. Thanks for the tips; useful.


  • That pretty much sums it up! but we also spray ours with a mister bottle every few days & obviously we have no electrical lights on it!


  • Blondie has given a great answer but here is one I refer to :
    How to Care for a Fresh, Cut Christmas Tree
    Real, cut Christmas trees are easy to care for, but freshness is key. Knowing how to buy and how to care for a real Christmas tree ensures maximum enjoyment throughout the holiday. These tips from the National Christmas Tree Association will help you buy and care for your cut Christmas tree:

    When you find a tree that you like, do a freshness test to make sure that it’s worthy to come home with you. Gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Very few needles should come off in your hand if the tree is fresh. Shake or bounce the tree on its stump. You shouldn’t see an excessive amount of green needles fall to the ground. Some loss of interior brown needles is normal and will occur over the lifetime of the tree.

    After you’ve chosen your live Christmas tree, keep it in a sheltered, unheated area, such as a porch or garage, to protect it from the wind and sun until you are ready to decorate it. If you won’t be decorating it right away, place the tree in a bucket full of water that you refill as needed. As you will see in the upcoming tips, watering your Christmas tree is critical for proper care and maintenance.

    Just before you set up your tree, make a fresh, straight cut across the base of the trunk (about 1/2 inch up from the original cut) and place the tree in a tree stand that holds a gallon of water or more. If you don’t cut off some of the trunk, the tree won’t be able to absorb water properly, and the live tree will dry out and become a fire hazard.

    Make sure your tree stand will hold enough water for the size of your tree. Measure the diameter of your tree trunk in inches — that’s how many quarts of water your tree stand should be able to hold. (For example, if it measures 6 inches across, then you need a tree stand that can hold 6 quarts of water.)

    Keep the tree stand filled with water. A seal of dried sap will form over the cut stump in four to six hours if the water drops below the base of the tree. If a seal does form, you’ll have to make another fresh cut, which is much harder to do when the tree’s decorated.

    A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water or more in the first 24 hours and one or more quarts a day thereafter. Watering your Christmas tree is important because it prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and the boughs from drooping. Water also keeps the tree fragrant.

    For safety, keep your tree away from all heat sources, such as fireplaces, radiators, baseboard heat, portable heaters, television sets, and heat vents. Not only can all of these can make the tree dry out faster, but can also contribute to setting a tree on fire.

    If you purchase a real Christmas tree, locate a recycling program in your area for when you need to get rid of it.


  • So pleased you asked this watching the answers


  • Remember to refill the water every day. I couldn’t believe how much water our Christmas tree soaked up last year.


  • Refresh the tree by making a straight cut across the base, taking 2cm off the stump before you place it into a stand with water. This simple measure will better enable your real Christmas tree to absorb sufficient water to maintain its freshness. Water the new tree until water uptake stops. If you do not wish to put your tree up immediately, store it in a cool place out of wind and sun in a bucket of water. Check the water level daily. If the water drops below the trunk, the trunk may seal itself and not be able to absorb water and the stump will need to be cut again. Straight water is the best way to help keep your real Christmas tree fresh. Place the tree away from sunlit windows, television sets and other heat sources as they will dry out your tree prematurely.


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