How to Care for a Christmas Tree: 6 Christmas Tree Care Tips

Christmas trees are a true staple of the holiday season, but they don’t have to go as soon as the Christmas day is over. The following tips can help keep your real Christmas tree alive and thriving long after Saint Nick touches back down at the North Pole:

1. 1. Test the tree at the lot. One of the best ways to ensure you’re picking a Christmas tree that lasts is by performing the needle test at the Christmas tree farm or lot where you buy your tree. To perform this test, simply wrap your fingers around the beginning of one of the tree’s branches, close your hand, and slide it toward yourself. If the needles come off in your hand, the tree is too dry. Additionally, look for trees with pliable outer branches. If these branches break off easily, the tree is too dry.
2. 2. Wrap your tree. When you’re transporting your live Christmas tree home, wrap the tree in light plastic to protect it from the wind.
3. 3. Give your tree some air. While a live Christmas tree will not survive too long past the holiday season, providing it with proper air circulation can help it last a little longer. Select a location with good ventilation and avoid placing the tree too close to the wall or any other surface.
   
4. 4. Recut the tree trunk. Proper tree care is the key to extending the life of a Christmas tree. A fresh-cut tree stem eliminates any sap-clogged areas to make it easier for the bottom of the trunk to absorb the water. Perform a straight cut around a quarter of an inch from the base of the trunk and place your tree in water within 24 hours of bringing it home.
5. 5. Water the tree. Christmas trees need at least a gallon of water every day to stay healthy. After cutting the tree stem, add water to your Christmas tree stand. While there is some debate around adding corn syrup, aspirin, or other additives to the tree’s water to keep it alive longer, research from the National Christmas Tree Association showed that simple tap water is the best way to hydrate your tree. Make sure your Christmas tree’s watering stand can hold at least a gallon of plain water. Check your tree’s water level daily to ensure it’s receiving the necessary hydration.
6. 6. Keep away from heat sources. Direct sunlight, heating vents, radiators, and fireplaces are fire hazards that can speed up the drying process, so keep your Christmas tree away from these elements and in a cool room. In addition, using a humidifier to keep the air moist may help reduce the risk of drying the tree out.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.