You’ve Found A Perfect Tree; Now Water It!

Fri., Dec. 6, 1996

Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-R

This weekend, many of us will be carting home that carefully chosen Christmas tree. In order to keep your life and their limbs stress-free for the duration of the season, following are a few gentle reminders for care:

Water, water, water. … Though there are many factors in determining the longevity of your tree, the one that is by far the most crucial is water, and plenty of it.

The tree absorbs water through the cut end on its base. If the base of the tree has been exposed to air for more than one hour, the tree will try to protect itself by sealing off the wound. Little does it know that it’s sealing its own fate. Obviously, once the cut is sealed, water can no longer be properly absorbed into the tree. For this reason, trees must be recut before they are set into the tree stand. Sawing off an additional quarter-inch of the base is plenty. When setting the tree into the stand, make sure the base touches the bottom.

Depending on its size, a fresh tree can drink five gallons of water or more by the end of the first week. If you have a tree stand that holds one gallon of water (that’s a mighty big stand), you may get by with watering only once a day. But for most of us who cram that fat, short trunk into shallow stands, our first week may be spent huddled around the base of the tree. You’ll be surprised to find that water may need to be added two or three times a day that first week. I can’t stress enough - check the water level often, especially those first few days. Once the tree base has been recut and set in water, do not allow the water to run low, thus exposing the cut end to air.

And, what can be done if this happens? Recut the base? Uh-huh … I don’t think removing all the ornaments and lights and starting over is in the best interest of your health or your tree’s. According to Holiday Decorating 101, one should never mess with a decorated tree. Instead, the most prudent choice is to let the tree slowly dry up. Of course, this process usually is completed somewhere around Christmas Day.then, the tree is so dry, it’s a hazard. Ornaments cling for their lives on stiff, bone-dry boughs. You can’t turn on the lights or walk around it in bare feet. On the 26th of December, the tree is dismantled and sent sailing into the back yard. Remember: Water, water, water.

Although water is the most essential element for a longer-lasting tree, there are other factors that contribute to the tree’s well-being.

Most trees sold in tree lots have been harvested weeks or even months before they are sold. They are kept in cold storage before being sent to the lot. On the lots, trees stay basically fresh because of the outdoor cold and moisture. However, once in the warm house, they quickly use up their moisture reserves. Even recutting the base and checking the water daily may not be enough to maintain the tree’s viability. Usually tree-lot trees are only good for a couple of weeks or so.

For those of us that decorate early, the plantation trees that we cut down ourselves are really the ticket. The Stephens household usually decorates the first weekend of December and takes down the first weekend of January. Many times, the tree is up for a good five weeks. We have yet to have a “you-cut” plantation tree turn brittle. If you’re not one to celebrate quite this long, the tree-lot tree should be just fine. Again, the key to both is WATER, WATER, WATER. And a special note - the Christmas tree plantations that I’ve seen are beautiful. There was very little, if any, damage to the trees from the ice storm.

Live trees (those with their roots still attached) should only reside in the house for about 10 days. Once you’ve enjoyed the tree, gradually acclimate it to the cold outdoors by placing it in the garage for a few days. Then plant it, if possible. If the ground is frozen, set it outside on the north side of the house protected from wind. Keep it watered and plant it as soon as possible.

And for all three types of trees - keep them away from heat vents or heating units of any kind, especially fireplaces. Flocking also helps to prevent moisture loss.

NEVER burn your tree in the fireplace. The fire is much too hot and dangerous.

And once again - water, water, water - keep that base under water. It works!

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