It’s the holiday season once again and the staff here at Countrybrook Farms wants to make sure you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. Many people worry about keeping their Christmas tree fresh this time of year, so we have compiled some helpful tips for you to follow to keep it lasting past the holidays!

Once you find the perfect tree, you want to give it fresh cut on the bottom. You should cut off about 1-2 inches off the trunk and get into water within the hour of the cut. Christmas trees will naturally use their sap to seal up the cut, which will hinder its ability to absorb water, so be sure to get it into water as soon as possible to avoid it sealing itself again.

Once given water, you should be checking the tree twice a day to make sure the stand is full. The first 7-10 days is the time frame your tree will drink the most water. After that, you should be checking at least once per day. Adding a tree preservative to the water will also help the tree stay fresh and keep its needles longer. We carry Forest Fresh – a pack of easy-to-use tablets that you just drop in water and it keeps tree fresh for up to six weeks!

You also want to make sure you are using a proper stand for your Christmas tree. A 6-7 foot Christmas tree can absorb as much as a gallon of water a day! We recommend Santa’s Solution stands, they are sturdy, hold a lot of water and have a lifetime guarantee.

You should also never let your tree dry out. If it does dry out, you can drill holes into the bottom part of the trunk that would be submerged under water in the stand.

Another great way to help keep your tree fresh and keep your family and your home safe is to keep it at least 3 feet away from any heat source to help prevent it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Be sure to turn off any heat sources around the tree, including floor vents and space heaters. Also, remember to turn off the tree’s lights when you’re not home or sleeping.

A great product we recommend to help keep all your Christmas greens fresh is Wilt Stop. It is a natural spray that you can use on your Christmas trees, wreaths, roping, and any holiday greens you have to help seal in moisture in the needles to protect them from drying out. You can give your tree a quick spray and let the foliage dry before bringing it into the house.

Browning and needle drop from the inside of the tree does not relate to the tree being dry or dying. This is a natural process for evergreens that starts in the late summer/fall. Most firs will start dropping old needles this time of year, so they can prepare for winter. This process is similar to deciduous trees, like maples and birch and started before the tree was harvested and sent off to be someone’s Christmas tree. If you notice browning and needle drop from the inside of your tree, there is no need to worry. As long as the outer branches are still green, soft and flexible, keep it watered and it will last you the whole Christmas season!