Real Christmas trees, like real flowers, will require a certain amount of
care and attention to obtain the maximum enjoyment and longevity. While
most Christmas trees sold in Ireland are non-shedding (Noble Fir and
Nordmann Fir), "not drying out" is just as important as "not shedding". Dried
out Christmas trees look awful and are a serious fire hazard. To prevent
drying out, follow these guidelines:
- Try not to buy your Christmas tree
until you are ready to put it up. In many countries (e.g., France) the
Christmas tree is not set up until Christmas Eve and taken down after
Jan. 6.
- After you bring your Christmas tree
home, keep it in a cool place until you are ready to set it up and begin
decorating it. The tree may be kept outdoors, but in such a way that it will be shielded
from the the sun and the wind. An unheated
garage, or porch, or patio will do fine.
- Stand it in a cool area (less than 15
centigrade).
- Place it in a "water stand".
If you are
buying a "water stand" for the first time, it's a good idea to select one
that is larger than what you think you might need; one that has a wide base (at
least 60 cm diameter), that will hold a tree with a
wide butt (at least 15 cm diameter), and that has a capacity to hold
at least 7 litres of water.
If you already have a "water stand",
you should make a fresh saw-cut, straight across the stem, at least 3 cms
above the original cut immediately before standing your tree in the water
stand. This fresh cut allows the tree to absorb water easily.
You will be surprised how much water your tree will
absorb. Initially, the tree may require 3 litres or more of water in the first day or two.
After that, expect that the tree will absorb 1 litre or more per day, depending upon its
size. Do not let the water level drop below the bottom of the stem. When that happens even
for a short period of time, there is a risk that the tree will lose the ability to take up
water.
Most people stand their Christmas tree using a "screw in" stand. This stand simply
screws into the base of the tree and it is very easy to stand the tree.
If a hole has not already been drilled into the base of your tree, drill a
hole in line with the leader (use a 6mm drill bit for a 12mm screw) and
screw the stand into the tree right to the base of the screw. Stand the
tree upright. If it is leaning to one side, put your foot on the leg on
the side towards which it is leaning; grip the tree at chest height and
push it gently away from you until it is upright.
Set up
your tree as far away as possible from sources of heat :- fireplaces, radiators,
vents, etc. This will slow the drying process and is also a safety precaution.
Useful
information on the care of your tree can be obtained from the following
sites.
http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/christmas-tree6.htm
http://forestry.about.com/od/christmastrees1/ht/fresh_cut_xmas.htm
http://www.coillte.ie/businesses/christmas_trees/useful_information/
Finally, do not
forget to unplug tree lights before going to bed and whenever the tree is
unattended.
