How To Care For Your Real Christmas Tree

Fresh Christmas trees are still a favorite.  There is nothing like the smell of pine for the holidays throughout the home.  The beauty and fragrance of a real tree brings joy to you and your guests as you prepare to celebrate the holidays.  A little planning can prevent many clean up problems.

Before you bring the tree into your home make a fresh cut on the base of the trunk, then shake the tree to remove any loose needles.   Before you place the tree in a sturdy stand put a Christmas tree removal bag under the stand, cover with a decorative tree skirt.   When the holiday is over, remove the stand and just pull the bag up over the tree and you will trap most of the needles.

Place the tree away from heat registers, space heaters, fireplaces, and other heat sources.  Use a tree mat or tray under the tree stand to prevent stains on the carpets or watermarks on your hardwood floors. Make sure the tree receives plenty of water to keep it fresh and not dry.  When you are bringing the tree into your home you will most likely leave a trace of needles from your front door to the place in the living area where the tree will stand.  There are a few tips when using your vacuum to pick up needles.  Pick up large pieces by hand, and use the hose attachment to pick up the remaining pine needles.  The attachment keeps the pine needles out of the base of the machine.  While vacuuming look for ornament hooks and broken glass bulbs, so they don’t clog the machine.   Put the rotating brush on the lowest setting.  Check the brush bar on your vacuum to remove any needles that are stuck and cut loose any tinsel that may be around the bar.  To remove tree sap from your carpet, use an all purpose stain remover.

Real trees are biodegradable and can be easily reused or recycled for mulch or other purposes. Check with your local communities for this information.