How to keep a real Christmas tree fresh in Canada

To keep a real Christmas tree fresh, make a fresh flat cut across the base of the trunk just before it goes in the stand, fill the stand with warm water right away and top it up at least twice a day. Place the tree away from furnace vents, fireplaces and sunny windows. Done properly, a tree can last several weeks indoors.

Many Canadians start buying trees in late November, and a tree that dries out is more than a mess of fallen needles. Dan Murphy, who runs Silver Bell Christmas Tree Farm in Springvale, P.E.I., told CBC that a dry tree indoors is a potential fire hazard and that a tree must never be allowed to run out of water. The steps below draw on guidance from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, the conservation charity Evergreen and Murphy’s advice to CBC.

Cultivated trees are usually the best choice for freshness, and cutting your own at a farm gives you the freshest tree of all. If you buy from a lot, look for one that keeps its trees in a sheltered spot rather than in the sun and wind. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry also notes that farmed trees have an 80 per cent taper, so a two-metre tree is about 1.6 metres wide at the base. Measure the room before you shop.

1. Do a freshness test at the lot. Run your hand gently along a branch. If needles come off easily, the tree is already dry and you should pick another one, Murphy said.
2. Store it outside until you are ready. Keep the tree in a cool, dry place out of the wind, rain and direct sun. Evergreen and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry both recommend this if the tree will sit for a few days before it comes indoors.
3. Choose the right stand. The stand should hold the tree upright and hold at least four litres (one gallon) of water in addition to the trunk, according to both Evergreen and the Alberta guidance. A small stand will run dry too quickly.
4. Make a fresh cut. Saw 1 to 2 centimetres (about one-half to three-quarters of an inch) off the bottom of the trunk, straight across. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry says the cut should be no more than four hours old when the tree goes into water, because the trunk seals with sap after that and cannot take up water. Have the lot make the cut if you cannot do it at home.
5. Fill the stand with warm water. Use very warm water for the first fill. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry says no additives are required, and Murphy said studies have not shown sugar or soda to help.
6. Pick a spot away from heat. Keep the tree clear of furnace vents, fireplaces, wood stoves and sunny windows, which dry it out faster. This also lowers the fire risk.
7. Check the water at least twice a day. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry says a tree can drink several litres a day in the first week or two. Watch the level closely over the first few days and never let the base sit dry.
8. Switch the lights off when you leave or go to bed. Evergreen advises turning tree lights off when you are asleep or out of the house. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as well, using our guide on how to test smoke and CO alarms at home.

A well-cared-for tree should last about three to four weeks, Evergreen says, and Murphy said it can last a little over a month. Indoor air that is very dry can shorten that, so see our tips on managing humidity at home in winter.

When the season ends, take the tree out of the house with its stand and wrap it in a tree bag first if you have one, the Alberta guidance says. Evergreen suggests laying the boughs on garden beds as winter protection, cutting the trunk for firewood or putting the tree out for municipal curbside chipping, which turns it into mulch. Check your city’s collection dates, since schedules vary.

If you would rather skip the watering, we have rounded up the best artificial Christmas trees in Canada, and you can find more ideas in our holiday decorations guide.

Sources: Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Agri-News (Nov. 2018); Evergreen, “10 easy care tips for your Christmas tree”; CBC, “On pines and needles: How to keep your Christmas tree from fading fast.”

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