Tree Care Tips To Help Prolong Your Pine

(KNSI) – Christmas tree care starts before the pine ever gets to your home.

Woods Farmer Seed and Nursery Owner Tom Woods says you should inspect your tree at the farm or lot you are buying from.

“The key thing is with a real tree, make sure you know what you’re buying. The old, traditional rule is pull on the needles, make sure they’re not dry and crisp, not falling off.”

While artificial trees are becoming more popular, Woods says he and his wife still go through the extra work to bring a real one in for decorating. Woods says when you first bring a tree home, make sure it is in a cool spot and it is fine to keep it outside until you are ready to set it up. Once the stand is ready to go, you have to take steps to preserve the tree quickly.

“The key thing is to warm it up first, try to warm it up a little bit, and then make a fresh cut. And once you do that fresh cut, you’ve got an hour or so. Try to get it into water as soon as possible.”

Woods suggests that you drill holes in the bottom portion of the trunk that is secured in the stand to help the tree absorb water and allow it to keep its needles through the entire Christmas season. Woods says there are preservatives sold to add to the water or you can find a version to spray on the limbs themselves.

Woods says to do your homework on what type to buy. Spruces tend to handle heavier ornaments but they lose their needles more quickly than other evergreens.

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