Have you ever wondered why your beautifully selected Christmas tree starts to look tired, drab and drops it's needles all over your lovely cream carpet within a small window of having it at home?
It's easy to prolong the lifetime of your tree, but you need to follow some simple steps.
1. Buy a healthy tree to begin with
The best way to keep your tree looking healthier for longer is ensuring you pick a tree that is already in good condition. To check how healthy a tree is try running your hands through the branches. Trees that have brown needles falling off of them should be avoided.
2. Look for a tree that has been kept in the shade
A little light, but not too much light. Another trick to keeping your tree healthy is to buy a tree that is already in some shade. A tree that is kept in part shade will be used to having less sun so it won’t be too much of a change for when you transfer it inside. Having said this, you do want the tree to be able to see some amount of natural light.
3. Keep your tree away from heat and lights
Be mindful of where you set up your tree and how many lights you have decorated over it. For example, avoid putting your tree too close to the fireplace or radiators, this will only cause your tree to dry out quicker.
4. Rehydration is key
Try spritzing water over your tree regularly to keep it hydrated, but do so with caution to avoid spraying any electrical lights or decorations for health and safety reasons.
5. Opt for LED lights
Obviously a beautifully decorated tree is nothing without lights. Normal lights let off a lot of heat which, as we know, can dry out the tree. If you are putting lights on your tree, consider LED lights. Not only do they let off less heat but they’re also more efficient and give the tree a softer glow.
6. Trim the bottom of your tree before placing it in water
When you purchase your tree, the seller will already have cut the bottom of it. But before putting the tree up, it’s a good idea to give it another cut, the same way you look after a good bunch of flowers. “Sap will have formed at the bottom of the trunk from the first trim in an attempt to heal the tree's wound. Giving it another trim before placing it in water will remove this, allowing for a much better water consumption.”
7. Check the water level every day
You might be surprised by how much water your tree will consume. They can drink up to several litres of water in the first couple of weeks.
Christmas trees will typically consume around one to two litres of water a day so make sure you keep an eye on water levels and top this up when necessary. You might also try adding some flat lemonade to your tree's water, as reports suggest that trees thrive with a bit of sugar in their water.
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