Released: December 03, 2003

Real Christmas Trees Easy to Care For, Add to Holiday Atmosphere

MANHATTAN, Kan. – It’s that time of year when Mom drags out boxes of ornaments and Dad gets tangled up in Christmas lights.

But before the Christmas preparations go further, the search begins for the perfect tree.

Thirty million real trees will be bought this year in North America, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

“If you want to be assured of having a fresh tree, cut a tree down so you know it’s really fresh,” said Charles Barden, forester with Kansas State University Research and Extension. “I would encourage people to buy from local Christmas tree growers.”

When picking out a tree either at a farm or at a store or lot that sells pre-cut trees, there are several characteristics to look for.

“If the tree feels heavy for its size, that’s a good indication it still has good moisture content. It should feel heavy and dense,” Barden said.

The tree’s needles should also be flexible, indicating they are still moist.

“If you can snap it in half with your fingers, then it’s probably dried out,” Barden said.

Shaking and cleaning the tree is a good way to keep dead needles out of the house, but is not an indicator of freshness as different tree species have different needle retention rates.

“Douglas firs and Balsam firs keep their needles,” Barden said. “Spruces are the worst. They drop their needles as soon as they get a little dry.”

Balsam firs are the most appealing with a strong aroma and needle retention, he said. However those trees are typically grown in Canada, harvested in October and shipped throughout the United States, making it difficult to find a fresh one.

After the tree is tied safely to the top of the car and transported home, Barden said it’s a good idea to wait a day before bringing it into the house.

“To keep it fresh, cut another 2 inches off of the trunk and immediately put it in water,” he said. “Keep it in the garage or basement in a big bucket. It may absorb more than a gallon of water to get it hydrated again and that’s easier when it’s in a cool place.”

After bringing the tree inside, set it in a stand that can hold at least one quart of water for every inch diameter of the trunk that sits in the stand. The stand should be placed away from heat registers, radiators, stoves and fireplaces. Such heat sources speed up evaporation and dry out the tree.

Tap water is best to keep the tree hydrated despite some recommendations of adding sugar, pennies and commercial additives.

“Plain water really works fine,” Barden said. “Those things don’t seem to help too much. Just let it drink a lot of water. Add more water each day because if it gets dry, it will seal over.”

Although people are often warned against tree fire hazards, only one out of every 900 house fires involves a Christmas tree, according to the NTCA. Overloaded electric outlets and faulty wires are the most common cause of holiday fires.

“You want to make sure your Christmas lights are UL (Underwriter’s Laboratory) approved,” he said. “The tiny push-in bulbs don’t get very warm. Check your current string of lighting to make sure there are no frayed wires that could cause a short and lead to a fire.” For more Christmas tree tips or to find a tree farm in your area, visit the National Christmas Tree Association’s Web site at www.realchristmastrees.org.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Sarah Rice, Communications Assistant
srice@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News