Tips for Choosing and Caring for Your Christmas Tree

By Blake Jackson

Selecting a Christmas tree is a matter of personal preference, influenced by local availability and the look and feel you want for your home. Bringing a freshly cut tree indoors, where it will display cherished ornaments and witness family traditions, requires some preparation to ensure it stays fresh throughout the season.

Most commercially sold Christmas trees are harvested in early November. If you plan to decorate as early as Thanksgiving, it’s important to choose a tree that can withstand the warm, dry conditions of a heated home.

Opting for freshly cut trees, selecting species suited to indoor conditions, and maintaining the right environment are key steps to prolonging freshness.

Local farms often allow customers to cut their own tree or choose one for harvest. The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association website can help locate nearby growers.

Popular tree species include Douglas-firs, which have soft blue-green needles and a citrusy scent; Frasier and Balsam Firs, known for their spicy fragrance and dark green needles; White and Scotch Pines, which are traditional favorites with strong branches for heavy ornaments; and Colorado Blue Spruce, prized for its blue-green needles and ability to support heavy decorations, though its needles are sharp.

To maintain freshness, use a water-holding stand that provides about 1 quart of water per inch of trunk diameter. Keep the base submerged and replenish water daily.

Newly cut trees do not require recutting, but if more than 12 hours have passed, trim about ¼ inch from the trunk. Place the tree away from heat sources and ensure proper fit in the stand. Avoid additives, drilling, or sprays; plain water is sufficient.

After the holidays, consider repurposing the tree. Branches can serve as mulch for gardens or shelter for birds. Many communities offer tree collection, recycling, or community bonfires, making it easy to dispose of the tree sustainably while benefiting the environment.

Photo Credit: istock-georgeclerk