Care of your live tree
Tim Mitchell's Christmas Trees
An Arizona Holiday Tradition Since 1950
TREE CARE TIPS FOR CONSUMERS
When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your displayed trees. Below are a number of tips relating to the care of displayed trees:
1. Displaying trees in water is the most effective way of maintaining
their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
2. In selecting a tree, make sure that the "handle" at the bottom
is long enough to allow the trunk to fit into you tree stand. Otherwise,
it will be necessary to remove large branches near the base, which could
ruin its appearance.
3. Make a fresh cut to remove a 1/4" to 1" thick disk of wood
from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make
the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don't cut the trunk at an angle,
or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree
in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.
If you use a "center pin" stand, make sure the hole is drilled
in the stem after it is trimmed
4. Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species
can go 6-8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Don't
bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.
5. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool
location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of
water. The tree may need to be supported in some manner to keep if from
tipping over.
6. To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding
capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart
of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain
a constant water level in the stand.
7. Use a stand that fits your tree. Some stands have circular rings at
the top, so the ring must be large enough for the trunk to go through
the hole. Other stands are open, which may allow a greater range in trunk
size. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The
outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should
not be removed.
8. Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters,
heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow
the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.
9. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important
and does not affect water uptake.
10. Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not
go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water
in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in
water.
11. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.
12. The use of "I-V" type devices to supply water directly to
holes drilled in the sides of the tree trunk is not as effective as displaying
the tree in a more traditional reservoir type of stand.
13. Applying film-forming anti-transpirants to the tree does not have
a significant effect on the rate of moisture loss from the tree. These
products supposedly block the evaporation of water from the surface of
foliage, but in reality they have little effect.
14. Adding water-holding gels to the stand is not beneficial and they
can reduce the amount of water in the stand that is available to the tree.
15. Use of miniature lights will produce much less heat and reduce drying
of the tree.
16. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn,
replace with a new set.
17. Do not overload electrical circuits.
18. Always turn off the lights when leaving the house or when going to
bed.
19. Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is
dry, remove it from the house.
20. Go to www.realchristmastrees.org and type in your zip code to find
a recycling program near you.
21. Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove of fireplace.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information coutesy of National Christmas Tree Association.
Home | Lots | Tree Types | Special Trees & Events | Links
Phone (602) 956-9574 - Fax (602) 778-9899
Copyright 2006 Tim Mitchell's Christmas Trees