Christmas Tree Care

Tips and safety information for real and artificial Christmas trees.

Real Trees

Purchase your Christmas tree early since trees dry out while on display at tree lots.
Test the needles for flexibility. Needles should bend, not snap or feel brittle.
Once home, cut approximately ½-inch from the base. Make a flat cut as this allows the tree to absorb the most water.
Place the tree in a stand with a water reservoir, or store in a bucket of water in a shaded area before setting it up to decorate.
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, tree stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Additionally, the sides of trees should not be whittled to fit tree stands, since the outer layers are most efficient at absorbing water.
To prevent drying, display your tree away from heat sources such as heating vents, fireplaces and windows that receive direct sunlight.
Check your tree daily to make sure the base of the tree is covered in water.
Check all light sets and replace any worn or frayed sets with new light sets. Use low-heat, indoor tree lights which are UL Listed. Using smaller lights emits less heat, which helps prevent the tree from drying out. Typically, you will need approximately 100 lights per foot.
Turn off tree lights before leaving your house or going to bed.
Do not burn your tree or tree branches in fireplaces or wood burning stoves.
Real trees are biodegradable. Check with your city for ways to recycle your tree once the holidays have past.

Make sure lights on pre-lit artifical Christmas trees are UL Listed.
Many artifical trees are made of PVC and lead is sometimes used in stabilizing PVC products during manufacturing. Carefully check product warning information as some contain harmful chemicals that are known to cause birth defects.
Pre-lit artifical trees sometimes contain components which can overheat resulting in fire. As with real trees, turn off tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed.

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