University of Wisconsin - Extension

If you want the freshest, longest-lasting Christmas tree, you'll need to cut it yourself. A trip to a tree farm where you can choose and cut your own tree is a highlight of the holiday season for many families. But if you can't drive out to the country to find your tree, University of Wisconsin-Extension Racine County horticulture agent Patti Nagai has some tips for keeping your tree fresh and beautiful.

Check for freshness. Many of the trees for sale at lots and garden centers were cut in October. Weather and storage conditions greatly affect how long the needles stay on the tree. To check for freshness, gently grab a branch and pull your hand forward towards the end of the branch letting the needles glide through your hand. The needles should stay on the tree. You can also shake the whole tree and check for needle drop. Brown needle dropping may just be normal seasonal needle drop, but if many green needles drop from the tree, it is probably not a fresh tree. Look for another.

Let the tree drink plenty of water. A fresh tree will absorb more than a gallon of water the first day and one to two quarts of water every day thereafter. If it stops taking up water, the tree will decline rapidly. Not only will you lose needles, you will also lose the fragrance. To make sure that your tree lasts the longest time possible, follow these steps carefully.

Make a straight 1/4-inch cut from the bottom of the tree when you get home to make sure the tree takes up lots of water. (Do this even if they cut it for you at the lot or the farm.)

Stand the tree in a 5 gallon bucket full of water to start, then place in your tree stand with fresh water added daily.

If the water ever gets below the level of the cut surface of the trunk, make a new 1/4-inch cut to assure water gets taken up. Sap blocks the surface within 4 to 6 hours if there is no water. This, of course, is very difficult to do once the tree is decorated, so don't let it go dry.

Do not place the tree in front of a heat vent or fireplace. This will dry out the tree very quickly. And always remember to unplug your lights before going to bed or leaving the house.

Recycle it. Remove all decorations - including the tinsel --from the tree before moving it outside. During the snowy winter months you can stand your tree outside to provide a haven for birds and other wildlife. Or, if you have some roses, shrubs, or perennials that you think need extra protection, use the cut boughs from the tree to cover the plants until spring reappears. When you're ready to move the tree or the boughs out of your yard, take to the local recycling center for chipping. Used evergreen Christmas trees make great mulch.

You can get more information about holiday plant care and other gardening questions by calling your county UW-Extension office, checking the web at http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wihort or calling InfoSource at 1-800-441-4636. You can get information about where to cut your own Christmas tree at http://www.christmastrees-wi.org .