holiday | know-how
3 WAYS TO DO IT BETTER
Keep Your Tree Fresh Longer
N othing b eats the in vigoratin g arom a o f a real C hristm as tree.
M ake it lin ger a little longer w ith th ese ea sy steps.
1
A freshly cut
trunk allows
trees to drink more
life-giving water.
Tree sellers usually
do this for you, but
it’s important to get
the tree’s trunk into
water within a few
hours after the cut
is made. If you can’t,
temporarily keep
the tree in a bucket
of water, or plan on
making another fresh
cut yourself just
before placing the
tree in the stand.
2
A cut tree can
c onsume a
considerable amount
of water— especially
the first few days you
have it indoors— so
use a stand that holds
at least a gallon. And
be prepared to refill
the reservoir daily to
keep the water level
from dropping below
the cut end of the
trunk. Additives such
as aspirin and floral
preservative do little
to keep trees fresh—
just use tap water.
3
Heat and dry
air cause trees
to use more water
and ultimately to
lose their freshness
sooner. Close heating
vents that blow
directly at the tree,
avoid placing trees in
windows that receive
direct sun, and
switch from standard
string lights to cooler
LED mini-lights.
Put lights on a timer
that turns them off
overnight and when
you’re not home.
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BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS | DECEMBER 2010 |
BHG.COM
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