Buying a real Christmas tree? Here's how to keep it fresh as long as possible

Brian Broom, Mississippi Clarion-Ledger
·3 min read

The holiday season is here and for thousands of Mississippians, that means setting up and decorating a Christmas tree.

When it comes to Christmas trees, artificial trees certainly have the upper hand for convenience. However, they aren't the same as a real tree. Picking one out and the scent they produce are part of the holiday experience for some people.

And, of course, you want to keep a real tree fresh. So, here are some tips to keep your tree looking good for as long as possible.

Judith Lowery of Resting Place Lowery Tree Farm in Flora said the first thing to do is make sure the tree has a fresh cut. If it is cut fresh at a tree farm, it's already done. If you buy a pre-cut tree, it needs to be cut and Lowery said most places that sell pre-cut trees will do it for you.

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There's nothing like a real tree at Christmas and here are some tips for keeping it fresh.
There's nothing like a real tree at Christmas and here are some tips for keeping it fresh.

Once it's cut, get the tree hydrated as soon as possible.

"When you get that tree from a field or a garden center, get that tree in water," Lowery said.

If you aren't putting the tree up immediately, Lowery said keep the tree out of sunlight, keep it upright and keep it in water. Once it's time to put the tree up, she said avoid placing it near heat sources such as fireplaces and heating vents.

"Don't put your tree by the fireplace and expect it to look good," Lowery said. "You're drying it out."

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce also offers tips for tree care on its mschristmastrees.com website.

Christmas tree care at a glance from MDAC

  • If you don’t plan to put up the tree immediately, store it in a place away from cold and wind, such as in a garage. Make a fresh 1-inch cut at the bottom of the trunk so that the tree can absorb water better, and place it in a bucket of warm water. To help your tree absorb water, make a fresh 1-inch cut at the bottom of the trunk before you place it in the tree stand, even if you already made a cut to the tree when storing it.

  • Keeping pre-cut trees watered is important. In the first week, trees can consume up to a quart of water every day.

  • How much water a tree needs in its stand depends on its size. Use 1 quart of water for every 1 inch of diameter.

  • Check the water level in the stand daily. As long as you keep the water level above the cut end of the tree, it will not dry out.

  • Use UL-certified mini LED lights. These produce less heat, which will slow the drying process.

  • Take down the tree before it dries out. If taken care of, many trees can last for 5 weeks before drying out.

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How to make your real Christmas tree last longer