Nothing smells quite as exquisite at Christmas time as a fresh, piney tree. Real Christmas firs have charm and a certain “je ne sais quoi” that synthetic ones lack.
However, it’s challenging to keep that gorgeous, fresh tree looking its best throughout the Christmas season. The good news is that, with only a few careful measures, your real conifer will remain fresh and vibrant all through the holidays.
Choosing the Perfect Tree
Before we even discuss how to look after yours, selecting the right spruce for your needs is the first step.
Not all Christmas firs are created equal, though. Choosing a tree that is already fresh will help you keep it alive and healthy for longer.
Most people prefer browsing Christmas trees for sale online since delivery companies save time and handle all the heavy lifting. However, if you are shopping in person, look for the following important elements while examining those trees.
The Needles
The vivid green leaves of a fresh conifer don’t fall easily. So, test them by pulling a branch gently. If the needles remain fixed, you are lucky.
On the other hand, move on to the next spruce if they shower you like confetti.
The Branches
Your conifer should be springy and full of life, not dried out or brittle. To determine if a branch has that desired flexibility, gently bend it. If it snaps, it’s a sign you will need to look elsewhere.
Healthy trees are flexible and resilient, bending under light pressure without cracking or breaking.
So, when you find a tree with lively branches, you’ll know you’re onto a winner for the festive season.
The Aroma
A brand-new tree will fill your senses with a fresh, invigorating pine aroma, the same one that you associate with lazy nights by the fire and the delight of unwrapping presents.
So, take a moment to sniff it gently. If it smells like something you’d find in a forest after a rain shower, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Prepare Your Fir Before Bringing It Inside
It’s time to get your tree ready for indoor life after it has been resting in the cold for some time. Just like a bouquet of flowers, your tree will need a new trim to enable optimal water absorption.
Cut roughly 2.5–5 centimetres from the bottom of your tree when you buy it or shortly before you bring it indoors. This is a crucial step since the sap will seal the trunk if it is cut and left out for too long, therefore stopping the tree from drawing in water once it is on a stand.
Pro tip: Get your tree to your house right away after you purchase it. If you’re not decorating it straight away, toss it in a pail of water. This will help keep it fresh until it comes time to put up the ornaments.
Positioning Your Tree for Success
The location of your Christmas tree really counts since it will affect its freshness. Here are some pointers to bear in mind.
Steer Clear of Heat Sources
Real Christmas trees are thirsty. They will dry up fast when placed near a radiator, heater, or fireplace.
The heat causes premature shedding and dry, brittle needles. Your tree should ideally be positioned far from direct sunlight in a cool, draught-free area.
Keep It Hydrated
Your tree needs water, like lots of it. Particularly in the first few days when it is adjusting to being indoors, a standard Christmas conifer can consume 1-2 litres of water daily. Make sure the water reservoir of your stand is always full.
Staying on top of watering is essential because if the trunk’s base dries up, the tree won’t be able to effectively absorb water. Some tree holders even feature a built-in indicator to simplify things.
Daily Care for Long-Lasting Freshness
Your tree is now all set, but how can you make sure it will look amazing all through the holiday season? Here’s a daily care schedule you can easily follow.
Frequent Water Top-Ups
Your tree will be drinking rather a lot of water, particularly in the first week, as was already explained. Every day, check the water level and add more as necessary.
If you have heating running nonstop or live in an especially dry environment, spraying the branches with water can help. This keeps the needles fresh and the air around the tree a bit humid.
Watch the Temperature
Should you increase the heat in response to cold winter conditions, attempt to offset it sometimes to keep your fir healthy.
Christmas trees thrive in cooler temperatures—about 20°C or 68°F. Avoiding overheating will help to greatly extend its life.
Keeping Your Tree Safe
Having a real Christmas tree in your house comes with some safety concerns. Particularly when they’re draped in strings of lights, fast-drying trees can constitute a fire threat.
Utilise low-heat LED lights. Those bulbs drastically lower the chance of your tree drying out or becoming a fire hazard as they emit little heat.
Your glittering tree is beautiful, but as you get ready for bed, it would be wise to turn off the lights. This not only cuts the heat your tree is subjected to, but also saves electricity.
Should the needles start to turn brown and fall, you should consider removing the tree. Once a conifer begins to lose its freshness, it is advisable to relocate it outside the house since dried firs easily catch fire.
A Final Farewell
Even with all the finest care, the time will come when you must say goodbye to your luscious tree. The secret lies in understanding when the spruce needs to be disposed of.
Many places have Christmas tree recycling programs whereby trees are gathered and transformed into mulch. Check your local laws and recycle your tree instead of throwing it away.
From the fresh pine aroma to the way it glows when it’s all lit up, a Christmas tree is the focal point of the holidays. Picture it: the family gathered around, laughing and sharing stories as it sparkles, it’s a scene straight out of a holiday postcard.
When searching through Christmas trees for sale, remember to choose wisely to ensure you buy a vibrant specimen.
To keep your fir lush, remember to give it plenty of water and keep it away from heat sources. Knowing your tree will dazzle throughout the season allows you to fully enjoy the festivities.
