We have always had live trees that we plant after Christmas or fake trees. This year, we want a cut tree. I do not know anything about caring for a cut tree or when to get it. HELP! -Do some trees drop more needles than others? -What is the earliest I should get the tree so it doesn't get too dry? -How do I care for a cut tree? Thanks in advance! Oh, we will keep it up until the New Year.
We have always just cut our own right after Thanksgiving. We trim the lower branches and recut the bottom at a slight angle to absorb more water. We choose trees with long "soft" needles rather than the short dense kind. They are easier to clean up and we have found they don't fall out as bad.
Patty, we have always had real trees that we go and cut down. Because both girls are in December we always like to keep Christmas and there birthdays a part. Hard sometimes but we try. Any way we cut ours down on black Friday every years. Instead of going to black Friday stores we go to black Friday woods. We went up in the snow mountains this year and cut it down. So much snow and so much fun. Have them shake it for you if you go to farm. Then when you bring it home take about another 1/2 to inch off. Need a fresh cut and put in tree stand and then into water right away. Keep in cool room where its not by a heater. Heater will dry it out. Give it aspirin to help with headache and to stay greener. Water every day never let the stand go empty. Decorate the tree with lights and whatever you want. Then sit back and enjoy the beautiful tree and smell. Its beginning to look a lot Christmas in my house.
the same trees that are out now are the same trees that will be out for sale in 2 weeks. so it really shouldn't matter when you put it up.
We always water our trees with *hot* water to make them last longer. I used to do pop (soda, 7-up) and other things, but someone gave me the tip on the hot water. It dissolves the sap I guess. The person who told me actually boils hers. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Definitely helps. Just for fun, google for the Mythbusters episode where they tried out different types of ways to make x-mas trees last longer. They didn't try hot water though.
