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Purchasing a cut tree for the holiday season can be expensive. If you shop for a tree purely on appearance, you may be deeply disappointed. By learning a few basic pointers, you will be better prepared to purchase the perfect tree. Your investment would be long lasting and your money well spent.
While shopping for a Christmas tree, inspection is essential. You must try to identify what variety of tree you are considering. Pine, blue spruce, and fir trees make wonderful selections since they have good needle retention and are very aromatic. Pine tree needles are long and will be in clusters of two, three, or five. Spruce and fir trees possess shorter needles and are attached to the branches individually. Avoid purchasing hemlocks, white spruce, or Norway spruce trees. These trees are poorer in quality and tend to lose their needles easily.
After distinguishing the type, you will need to examine it for freshness. The needles of the tree should be flexible and dark green in color. If the needles appear discolored or are easily broken, the tree has been standing too long. You can also grasp one of the tree’s limbs gently, moving your hand slowly across its length. If the needles pop off easily, the tree is dehydrated. A tree that has a moisture level below 80% will continue to decay, even with watering. Without high moisture content, it would also be considered a fire hazard! If the tree you select has an adequate amount of moisture, it will continue to absorb water from your tree stand. Therefore, the tree will remain fresher, longer. When you transport the tree you have chosen, take special care. Place it on top of your vehicle, base forward, and wrap it well with burlap. This will both protect the tree and prevent further drying.
After you have your tree home, it’s time to prepare it. If you don’t expect to do so immediately, you must unwrap it, cut off an inch or more from the bottom of the trunk. This assures your tree will soak up water easily. Position it in a stand and fill with water. Bring it indoors, and situate it in a container of water. Make sure it is stored in a cool location. Do not place your tree near any electrical appliances, fireplaces, burning candles, or any other item that could possibly ignite it.
Fireproofing a tree is a simple process and well worth the extra effort. All you will need is a bucket, warm water, alum, boric acid and borax. Place a ½ gallon of warm water into the bucket. Add 1 cup of alum, ½ cup boric acid, and 2 tablespoons of borax. Stir well, allowing the powders to dissolve. Finally, stir in one more ½ gallon warm water and combine. Place some of this solution in a spray bottle and spray the tree generously. Add more of the liquid to the spray bottle as needed, spraying to thoroughly cover the branches and trunk. If you have any of this mixture remaining, add it to the tree stand. Allow the tree to dry before decorating. Make sure to clean up any spilled water or pine needles to avoid staining.
Decorating your fresh, fireproofed Christmas tree is the final step. If you chose to use lights and/or a lighted tree topper, make sure they are marked “UL approved” either on the box or cord tag. Replace burnt out bulbs immediately and check all cords for damage. Always remember to unplug all lights when you leave or when they are not in use. Your newly decorated tree will not only stay fresh longer, but it will provide hours of holiday pleasure safely.
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