Take care of your Christmas tree
This guide will help you keep your Christmas tree looking bright and healthy, for the whole of the festive period.
Rooted Christmas Trees
It is quite common to buy rooted Christmas trees these days, as they can survive for a few years if they are well looked after. You should have less difficulty with a rooted tree than with a cut tree, but they still need maintaining. The most important thing to remember with a rooted tree is that the move from outside to inside can be quite shocking for the tree. Make sure you keep it outside for as long as you can, before you bring it into the house.
Once inside, it is important to water the tree regularly. Maintain a moist base in the pot to prevent drying out, and the needles should stay on the branches. You will also give your tree the best possible chance of surviving until the following festive period, which is one of the main reasons for buying potted trees. When it comes to the New Year, move your tree outside in its existing pot, and if possible, plant the tree. Mulching is recommended to protect against freezing.
Cut Christmas Trees
Cut trees require a great deal of care, but with regular watering you should be able to keep them green and fresh throughout the festive period. In fact, the healthiest way to keep a cut tree is to keep it in water at all times. You have to buy a reservoir stand which you can fill with water, this gives the tree a constant water supply. You need to make a fresh cut to the tree which creates a flat bottom to the trunk. This will help when standing the tree up straight, and it will also let the tree to take on board the maximum amount of water.
You should allow no more than 6 to 8 hours between making a fresh cut and placing the tree in water, so once you are home, you need to move quickly. Keeping the tree away from heat sources is going to help. But also keep water in the reservoir to extend the life of the tree and help retain needles.
Artificial Christmas trees
An artificial tree is for life, not just for Christmas! They can be large items, so make sure you have the space to store one after the festive period. Don’t just sling it in the back of your shed, or it will be in a sorry state when you attempt to retrieve it the following year.
You will also need to give your artificial tree the once over when you take it out of storage. Normally you can use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to do this quickly and easily. Be test a hidden part of the tree first – just to make sure that the vacuuming doesn’t take off the pine needles! Otherwise, you can use a dust cloth to lightly go over the branches of the tree. This will remove any dust that has gathered over the last twelve months.
Christmas trees are such a wonderful symbol of seasonal celebration. With a little love and care they will fill your home with festive cheer every Christmas.
