Care and Disposal of Christmas Trees

Since so much time and effort is put into selecting the perfect Christmas Tree, it follows that similar consideration should also be given to caring for the tree. Otherwise, there will be disappointment if needles start to brown or turn yellow, or branches begin to break with days or weeks to go before the season is over. Safety is also an important reason to take proper care of your Christmas Tree because a drying Christmas Tree also presents a fire hazard. The average Christmas Tree should last for about five to six weeks if the proper care is given to it.

After selecting a Christmas Tree and getting it home, the first thing that should be done is to make a fresh cut and place it into a stand with water. A Christmas Tree shouldn't be mounted dry and the water in its stand should be replenished regularly. A fresh cut is made by cutting about an inch off the bottom in a slightly diagonal shape to help with the absorption of water. If a fresh cut isn't going to be made immediately after getting the tree home, it should be placed in a container with water and left to stand in a shaded area away from the wind.

If a fresh cut isn't made and the Christmas Tree is left exposed to air, the vessels for transporting water can become blocked. If this happens, another fresh cut can correct the problem and the tree then needs to be immediately put in a container with water.

Your Christmas Tree should be secure in its stand and it should be placed away from open flames or sources of heat such as furnaces, fireplaces, and air vents, all of which may dry it out. Decoration of the tree should also begin after it has been mounted in its stand. Several decoration precautions should be taken to lessen or avoid a fire hazard.

Ornaments that have an open flame or candles should never be used for decoration. Christmas Tree lights should be checked to make sure the bulbs are working properly, the connections are intact, and that no part of the cord is damaged. If there appears to be any exposed wiring or bulbs that are not working, that string of lights shouldn't be used.

A good Christmas Tree stand should be used because water is the most important aspect of getting the longest possible life out of your Christmas Tree. In selecting a stand, determine the amount of water it can hold when a tree is placed in it. Some water will be displaced from the space taken up by the base of the tree, so it is important not to base your selection on the total volume of water each stand can hold.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the average Christmas Tree may absorb up to one gallon of water each day, so it is important to check the water every day and to replenish it frequently. To make sure your Christmas Tree gets enough water, the National Christmas Tree Association recommends that one quart of water is required for each inch of the diameter of the tree's trunk.

After Christmas is over and your wonderfully decorated Christmas Tree has provided much joy, it is important to remove it before it dries out. Options to discard your Christmas will likely depend on the services offered in your area. Some town or cities will pick up Christmas Trees on particular days. Some may require that residents take their trees to specific locations, while in other areas, Christmas Trees will be picked up with the garbage.

Christmas Trees should never be burned in the fireplace as it can cause the build up of creosote, a colorless, oily substance.

There's also the option of putting your Christmas Tree to a different use by cutting it into pieces yourself and using it for mulch.