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With the Christmas holiday fast approaching — and with your tree now purchased, riiiiiight? — your work isn’t done. You’ve also got to reteach yourself the Twelve Days of Christmas and try to remember just what in the heck figgy pudding is, among other things. However, back to that tree for a minute; do you know how to keep your Christmas tree from drying out? It isn’t hard, but you’d be amazed how many people overlook the simple steps to do just that.

How to Keep your Christmas Tree from Drying Out

• If you have chosen to purchase a fresh Christmas tree (and really, there’s no reason to be reading this if you hadn’t), you’ll need to first make a new cut at the bottom of your tree before placing it in fresh water. Without a fresh cut, it won’t be able to take in new water.

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• When choosing a stand, be sure to choose one that can hold at least a gallon of water. Also, if it hasn’t been sitting in water in a few hours, you can reasonably expect it to take in more water. Continue watering until water uptake stops, and then maintain the desired level of water for the duration of the season.
• If there’s any tip to take away from all of this, it’s that you can’t allow your tree stand to go dry, since if the base is allowed to go dry, resin will form over the base and seal it off from new water. If this happens, you’ll either have to cut a new “cookie,” as the fresh cut is called, or just resign yourself to the fact that your tree is going to dry out quickly. For those who choose to put additives such as aspirin or sugar in the water, you certainly can, although experts note that these additives can actually do more harm than good.

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• Understand that even with regular watering, your tree will eventually dry out over time, and a dry tree can become a fire hazard. For this reason, it’s important to make sure that all outlets and electrical accessories are a safe distance away from your tree, and that the cords, cables and light housings aren’t worn down. There are also flame-retardant sprays that can be purchased at any hardware store and work quite well.
• Even though it’s common to enjoy the season as long as you can, your tree should be taken down before it has dried completely. For one thing, it will be much cleaner than if you wait until it’s shedding all of its needles. For two things, the added danger of a tree you’ve let dry out too long just isn’t worth it.

There are few things that add joy to the holiday proceedings like a Christmas tree does, but it’s still worth noting that there are inherent dangers to choosing a life one. We hope that these tips help you enjoy a safe and festive holiday season, and that you’ll come see us soon at Avondale Nissan!