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13 Tips For Selecting, Caring For Christmas Tree

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest when it comes to buying a Christmas tree, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

With an estimated 25 million real trees being sold this holiday season, officials are sharing tips on finding the perfect tree and how to care for it safely.

The National Fire Protection Association says, approximately one-tenth of one percent (.12%) of residential fires involve a Christmas tree. Although the number of tree-related fires is small, they can be especially dangerous.

Here are some tips to note before buying your tree:

MEASURE YOUR SPACE:

Be sure you know what size (height and width) you need before heading to the lot. Measure the ceiling height in the room where the tree will be displayed. The trees in the field look small, and it is easy to overbuy. Measure the width of the area of the room where the tree will be displayed. Most trees are trimmed to an 80% taper. So a tree that's 10' tall will be 8' wide at the bottom. A tree that will fit in the room vertically may be too big horizontally.

ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TREES:

Ask the retailer when he/she gets the trees: are they delivered once at the beginning of the season, or several shipments during the season? Often, a tree obtained soon after its arrival on the retail lot will be very fresh because it was recently cut.

DO A BRANCH/NEEDLE TEST FOR FRESHNESS:

Run a branch through your enclosed hand - the needles should not come off easily. Bend the outer branches - they should be pliable. If they are brittle and snap easily, the tree is too dry.

LOOK FOR OTHER INDICATORS OF DRYNESS OR DETERIORATION:

Indicators might include: excessive needle loss, discolored foliage, musty odor, needle pliability, and wrinkled bark. A good rule-of-thumb is, when in doubt about the freshness of a tree, select another one. If none of the trees on the lot look fresh, go to another lot.

Below are some tips on caring for your tree:

  • Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most efficient way of maintaining freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does NOT improve water uptake.
  • 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. 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.
  • 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. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.
  • Keep trees at least three feet away from major 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.
  • Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.- Always inspect light sets before placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.
    - Do not overload electrical circuits.
    - Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.
  • Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.
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