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One of our favorite holiday traditions is going to pick out a Christmas tree at a local tree farm. We always go the weekend after Thanksgiving. There is something so special about going out and spending time outdoors with the family; picking out a real tree to decorate for the holiday season. We also love to support local small businesses. Not to mention you just can’t beat the smell and look of a real tree. We also love that the tree farm we purchase from plants three new trees for every tree that is cut down.
The past few years we have been getting a Canaan Fir. This is a hybrid tree, they hold their needles like a Fraser Fir and smell like a Balsam. We’ve had pretty good luck with them lasting the whole season. There are a few important things to remember when bringing home a real tree to help it last all season long. One of the most important things is to make sure to give it a fresh cut at the base when you get home. Cut off anywhere from ½ – 1 inch off the stump. This is important because the exposed area will create a sap plug. If you don’t give it a fresh cut before watering and bringing it into the house then the tree will have a hard time soaking up the water it needs and will inevitably lose the moisture it needs.
After cutting the base of the tree, place the tree in the tree stand. We then bring it into the house, leaving the netting/string around the tree so we can try to get the tree as straight as possible. Once we like the position of the tree we then take off the netting, we just use a scissors to cut the netting and unwrap it. There will be A LOT of needles that get knocked off in the unwrapping and decorating of the tree so make sure to have a broom or vacuum close by to pick up any needles after you’ve finished decorating. This is the tree stand we have used for years, it works great!
The other important thing we’ve found essential is to make sure it doesn’t run dry. This again can cause the tree to form a sap plug at the base. The first few hours and days the tree will drink a lot of water, so be sure to check the water level frequently. After the first week or so we usually water it one to two times a day, once in the morning and before bed as needed.
We hope you have a great Christmas season with your loved ones, and enjoy your family traditions. Maybe this year you even start a new one!
