The Christmas tree is an essential part of the most beloved winter holidays. The pleasant and calming scent of pine in the house during Christmas and the feeling of a real fairytale are what lead us to prefer a live tree over an artificial one. And if you have young children, how can you deny them the joy of decorating a real live tree?
Soon, the sale of live Christmas trees will be in full swing. Considering the vast variety of choices, picking a live tree isn’t easy. Additionally, you need to set it up correctly, maintain its beauty for as long as possible, and later dispose of it properly. AdmiGram.com has compiled some advice you should know if you’ve decided to choose a live Christmas tree.
Christmas tree: how to choose a live tree correctly
How to choose a live Christmas tree
© Kelly Mercer / Flickr
It’s not advisable to buy a Christmas tree ‘too early’ as it won’t last until the end of the holidays. The optimal time is about 4 days before the celebration. Choose a tree in good lighting so you can examine all the details and pick the best one. Moreover, just before the holiday, there’s a chance to buy a tree at a discount.
The first thing to notice is the trunk. Choose a tree with a thick trunk – it’s a sign of the tree’s health. For a 5-foot (1.5 m) tree, the diameter of the bottom part of the trunk should be at least 3 inches (7.5 cm). There should be resin on the cut, and the more there is, the better. It indicates the tree was recently cut. There shouldn’t be dark spots, fungi, mold, or mechanical damage on the trunk.
Next, examine the needles. They should be uniformly green. Presence of dry, red, or brown needles indicates the tree was cut a while ago and won’t last long. To confirm the tree’s freshness, gently warm the tip of a branch with your breath. If you smell a pleasant pine scent, the tree was freshly cut.
Transportation, storage, and installation of the Christmas tree
© Jasmin Schuler / Unsplash
It’s best to buy a tree near home and carry it yourself. To avoid breaking branches, wrap the tree in transport fabric immediately after purchase and tie it with rope. Carry the tree with the top facing backward to avoid damaging the ends of the lower branches. When bringing the tree into the house, carry it with the top facing forward. Until the moment of ‘dressing up’ the tree for the holidays, it needs proper storage. Don’t bring a tree straight from the cold into a warm room; it’s better to leave it in a cool place.
A couple of days before Christmas, bring the beauty inside – let its branches spread and needles fluff. Place the tree in a bucket of water (after trimming the trunk to ‘refresh’ it). To extend its life, add one of the following ‘tree elixirs’ to the water: a spoonful of garden fertilizer, a spoonful of glycerin, or a ‘mixture’ of an aspirin tablet, a spoonful of sugar, and a pinch of salt. A well-fed tree will last long and spread the wonderful forest scent.
Sand is poured into the bucket with water and feed, then the tree is watered every three days, just like a flower. By the way, it’s better to get the sand from a construction store rather than outside – it’s cleaner and costs next to nothing. You can also set up the New Year tree on a simple wooden crossbeam or on special metal ‘turntables.’ Crossbeams with additional supports are optimal for those with pets and naughty little children at home – they prevent the tree from tipping over.
Disposing of the Christmas tree
© Oli Matthews / Flickr
Over a couple of weeks during the holiday season, the tree can dry out. When taking it out of the house, it’s difficult not to make a mess with the shedding dry needles. Carefully remove the dried-up tree to avoid having to pick up needles all over the house. It’s worth preparing for the disposal of the tree in advance.
Put on gloves and long-sleeved clothing, cut off the branches as close to the trunk as possible, and neatly pack them into large bags. After that, all that’s left is the bare trunk, which can be discarded. If dealing with tree disposal seems like too much hassle, you can use the services of specialized waste disposal companies.
image on top: Jonathan Borba / Unsplash
