St. Cloud Times
So you’re playing host to a live Christmas tree this year.
Join the club; it’s been an increasingly popular decision, area tree farm owners report.
But just like your houseplants, live trees need some care to stay healthy through the holiday season. Jan Donelson, owner of Jan’s Christmas Trees in Clear Lake, has some tips for how to properly care for your real Christmas tree as well as how to keep that festive pine vibe going.
Make fresh cuts
A lot of tree defoliation problems can be traced back to a thirsty tree, Donelson said.
When you bring your tree home from the tree farm, make a fresh cut at the bottom of the trunk before putting it in water.
“A [cut] tree will sap over, just like our blood clots,” Donelson said. That sap cap keeps the tree from drawing up water, where a fresh cut means the tree can keep drinking.
Pay close attention to water levels.
That’s also why it’s important to keep the water level above the base of the trunk. If the cut isn’t in water, the trunk will sap over. If you want your tree to be “full” before putting it in the stand, put it in a larger container of water overnight and move it to the stand the next day.
Wait to put it up, even if you buy it early.
Got your tree the week before Thanksgiving?
“That’s a long time to expect a tree to look really nice on the 25th of December,” Donelson said. “… Every tree has limitations.”
If you want the needles to look really nice for a specific event, wait to set your tree up until a little before then, so it’s fresher.
Keep your home smelling fresh.
That fresh tree smell goes away after a while, but there’s a way to get it back, Donelson said. When you take off the bottom few branches to fit the tree into the stand, save those branches and put them in your garage. Before company comes over — or whenever you want a boost of fresh scent — bring in a branch and cut needles off over the garbage can. That room will smell like a tree fresh from the farm, Donelson said. Do it in any or all rooms of your home.
“You can get your whole house smelling like Christmas in two seconds,” Donelson said. “… It’s a simple way to extend the whole feeling again.”
Branches can be reused until they’re needleless.
Sarah Kocher is the business reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-255-8799 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @SarahAKocher.
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