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10 tips to keep your Christmas tree fresh

A dry Squamish Christmas tree is a flammable tree
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For many in Squamish, a natural Christmas tree is a joyous tradition.

There's the fun of picking it from the tree lot, the packing it onto the car, the smell of a fresh tree that fills the house and the unique feeling of bringing the outside in for the season.

What is not to love?

But without proper care, a natural tree can quickly dry out and cause a fire, with disastrous effect, as this Richmond fire department video shows.
To prevent the tree tradition from turning into a dry, needle-dropping nightmare, following this advice from the Department of Horticulture at Penn State University.  

1. Use a tree stand that can hold enough water. 

A tree stand should have a water basin that provides one litre of water per 2.5 centimeters of stem diameter. For most Christmas trees, the stand should hold close to four litres water. A cut tree will absorb a surprising amount of water, particularly during the first week, so replenish the water daily.

2. The tree stand should fit your tree.  Avoid whittling down the sides of the trunk to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.

3.The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not impact water uptake.

4. If the tree is stored for more than two days before display, place its trunk in water and keep it in a cool, shaded and protected area such as an unheated garage.

5. Keep trees away from sources of heat — fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight. Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.

6. Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. 

7. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water absorption.

8. Do not use additives in the water, including floral preservatives, commercial tree preservatives, molasses, sugar, bleach, soft drinks, aspirin, honey, and other concoctions. Clean water is all that is needed to maintain freshness.

9. Displaying trees in water with proper care is much more effective in reducing fire hazards than spraying trees with flame retardants. Some flame retardants can damage needles and increase the rate of moisture loss from trees.

10. Monitor your tree for dryness. Run your fingers across the needles to determine if they are dry and brittle. If the needles break easily or fall off in your hand, the tree is dry and should be removed from the house. A well-cared-for tree should usually remain fresh at least three to four weeks before drying to an unacceptable level.

Also, once Christmas is over, trees can be taken to 4th Squamish Scout Group tree chipping at Canadian Tire on Jan. 5th and 6th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
By donation.
 
More Christmas tree advice can be found here 

 

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