Forget a white Christmas; if you’re dreaming of that big, beautiful Tannenbaum in November, you need to know for sure that you can keep it from drying out by New Year. Otherwise, your Christmas tree will be less ‘star of that Kelly Clarkson bop’ and more… well, more a nightmarish pile of brown needles.
Yes, you can pick your Christmas tree as early as six weeks prior to the holiday, so long as you’re prepared to put the work in to keep it happy and hydrated. Thankfully, we’re here to help you do exactly that – and we promise our list of tips isn’t anywhere near as sprawling as Santa Claus’s naughty and nice scroll.
In fact, it doesn’t matter if you opt for a Douglas fir tree, a Colorado blue spruce, or one of the other pretty pines available; there are just three (3!) things you need to do to keep your Christmas tree looking its glossy green best up to and beyond its big day. Joy to the world, right?
1. Make a Fresh Cut
The most important thing you can do to keep your Christmas tree from drying out by New Year? Other than making sure you’ve chosen a healthy tree with the least amount of brown needles? Ask the vendor to make a fresh cut for you.
Just a thin disk off the bottom will be enough, so long as you know it’ll be going into water within 45 minutes of that slice-and-dice treatment.
If you’re travelling further than 45 minutes for your tree, don’t despair; just use a clean, sharp saw to take an inch off the previous cut at home in a straight line. Or, y’know, stick to one of the many live potted Christmas trees on offer (if only so you can replant it in your garden once the festive season is over).
2. Give it a Lot to Drink
A lot of people forget that trees are incredibly thirsty at the best of times, and the same is true of your Christmas tree; it’ll likely be more than able to absorb up to a gallon of water in the first 24 hours alone.
To keep yours from drying out by New Year, then, choose a stand that’s a) properly sized for your tree, b) able to hold one quart of water for every inch of the trunk's diameter, and c) ideally kitted out with an easy-to-read gauge that shows when to refill; it should always cover the bottom two inches of trunk at the very least.
Here are three of our favorites for the job…
This clever stand has an easy-to-read gauge that shows you exactly when to refill the 1-gallon reservoir.
Is there any greater present than one that keeps your Christmas tree happy, hydrated, and healthy? We didn't think so.
The busy holiday season won't distract you from your watering duties, thanks to the built-in float of this clever stand.
3. Atmosphere, Atmosphere Atmosphere!
If you really want to keep your Christmas tree from drying out by New Year, don’t just think about the watering process itself; you should also try to lower the temperature in the room, if possible, and consider adding a humidifier, too.
Amazon currently has a deal on its Everlasting Comfort 6L Humidifiers, if you’re interested. And there are a few other items you might want to add to your shopping list, too...
Shop Christmas Tree Care Essentials
Remember: it’s not just about your Christmas tree looking good. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that an average of 160 home fires are started by Christmas trees each year, and it can take less than 30 seconds for a dry tree to burn down most of your living room.
Less than 30 seconds. That's not even enough time to get through the intro to Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You.
Keep your tree watered, then, and keep things safe this Christmas. Happy (hydrated) holidays...
