Buying a Christmas tree is a fun experience for families in anticipation of the holiday season. But how do you know if the tree you choose will last all the way through Christmas, and what can you do to keep it healthy?
Marcos and Mauricio Ulloa, owners of JC Tree Service in Brentwood, have a few tips on how to pick the perfect tree, and what you need to do to keep it vibrant until the day your kids grab their presents from underneath it.
When picking a tree, “you want to make sure you pick one that has a deep green color and flexible branches,” Ulloa said. “Try shaking the tree a little, if a lot of pine needles fall off that’s usually a sign that it’s dying out. Pick one that doesn’t lose a lot of needles.”
Once you’ve found a good tree, the Ulloa brothers suggest cutting off about half an inch off the base of the tree to make sure it absorbs water, keeping it alive.
The Ulloas said that trees need open pores to absorb water properly, but a tree’s pores seal after they are cut. To reopen the pores, cut a bit of the bottom of the tree off and put it in water within 30 minutes.
To make sure the pores don’t reseal, Marcos Ulloa said to make sure the tree has enough water to cover the trunk. “Trees can drink up to a gallon of water on their first day, so make sure it has plenty of water.”
While it’s aesthetically pleasing to have a big Chritsmas tree next to a warm fireplace, the Ulloa brothers advise against putting your tree near places that produce heat. Heat dehydrates the tree, making it more likely that it will die sooner.
Mauricio Ulloa said to keep trees away from “heater vents, fireplaces, wood stoves, space heaters, and south-facing windows. It’s also a fire hazard to keep them near heat sources, so be aware of that.”
Any source of heat can dehydrate a tree, so the Ulloas suggest using LED lights to adorn your tree. “Old-school incandescent lights heat up whereas LEDs don’t,” Marcos Ulloa said.
To check the condition of your tree Marcus Ulloa suggested inspecting the pine needles. Healthy pine needles should retain their color, stay flexible, and stick to the tree. If the pines of your tree do not fit that criteria, it is suggested to replace that tree to avoid any hazards.
While all these tips help extend a tree’s life, the Ulloa brothers said that the typical lifespan for a Christmas tree is three to five weeks. It is important to pick a tree within that time frame to make sure it survives long enough to see Christmas.
