Eliminate the mess of putting up a fresh Christmas tree, and help prevent Christmas trees from losing needles by following these steps.

For many people, Christmas simply isn’t Christmas without a fresh Christmas tree. Buying a fresh Christmas tree, however, can mean dealing with pine or balsam needles that somehow make their way all over the house, as well as constantly watching the Christmas tree to make sure it doesn’t fall over.

While environmentalists argue that buying fresh Christmas trees depletes the earth’s natural resources, advocates for fresh Christmas trees argue that artificial Christmas trees accumulate in landfills when disposed because they do not disintegrate. Those buying fresh Christmas trees can check to see if they are buying from an ecologically conscious farm that replants trees, as well as ensure that their Christmas tree is recycled.

Buying Fresh Christmas Trees

The following tips will help ensure that your Christmas tree does not fall over and is easy to transport:

1. Buy a good Christmas tree stand. Canadian Tire, Home Depot, and Rona sell good quality Christmas tree stands for about $40 that are well worth the investment as a good tree stand will eliminate the chances that the Christmas tree will fall over. One good style of Christmas tree stand is one that has four prongs that are screwed tightly into the tree trunk.
2. Buy a Christmas tree bag. (They are usually sold at most hardware stores for about $2-$3).
3. Ask the Christmas tree vendor to saw about 3-4″ off the trunk of the tree. This will ensure that the Christmas tree is able to absorb water and keep moist; however, be sure to place the tree in water within an hour per the instructions below or the trunk will seal up in an effort to preserve moisture.
4. Have the Christmas tree vendor wrap the Christmas tree tightly in twine (Home Depot will do this automatically). Once the tree is wrapped in twine, put the Christmas tree bag over the tree. This makes it much easier to transport the Christmas tree in tight places like a car or through a door, as well as ensuring that tree needles to do fall off in the car or in the house.

Best Way to Put Up Christmas Trees

The following steps will keep your Christmas tree fresh and prevent the tree from losing a lot of needles:

1. Insert the Christmas tree (still in its twine and Christmas tree bag) into the Christmas tree stand and secure according to the instructions for your stand.
2. Once the Christmas tree is secure, remove the Christmas tree bag, and add about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water to the tree stand. Keep the twine on the Christmas tree for the next hour or so while the tree settles as often the tree will shift once it absorbs water and it is easier to adjust the tree in the stand while it is still in the twine.
3. Once the tree appears to have settled, remove the twine. Many people add a mixture of corn syrup, water and bleach to the tree stand because the belief is that the fructose from this mixture acts as tree food and will help prolong the life of your Christmas tree. You can now proceed to decorate the tree.
4. Check the water in the tree stand every day to ensure there is enough water to cover the base of the Christmas tree.

Best Way to Take Down Christmas Trees

Christmas trees often start to become dry after a week although taking the steps outlined above will slow down the drying process. In between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, most Christmas trees will have lost some needles. When it’s time to take down the Christmas tree, put the tree in the same Christmas tree bag used when putting up the tree and place outside.

Safety Tips for Fresh Christmas Trees

1. Never leave children or pets alone with Christmas trees.
2. Never leave Christmas tree lights on when not at home.
3. Use only federal safety standards approved Christmas lights.

Buying real Christmas trees does not have to result in messy tree needles all around your house and car. Buying good Christmas tree stands and wrapping trees in twine and Christmas tree bags will make trees easy to carry, prevent tree needles from dropping everywhere, and will eliminate the problem of Christmas trees falling over.

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