How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last All Season

It’s the time of year when Christmas tree lots start appearing around your community, bringing with them a difficult decision—will bringing home your evergreen so early in the season mean having a Charlie Brown-style tree come Christmas Day? Luckily, with these few tips, you should be able to preserve your fresh pine from early December into the new year.

Related: Solved! How Long Does a Christmas Tree Last?

First off, pick the right tree. Before leaving the lot, give your choice a good shake and watch the type of needles that fall. Only a few needles should come off if the tree is fresh. While the loss of some brown needles is normal, fallen green needles are usually an indication the tree has gotten dry.

Related: Your Guide to Picking the Perfect X-Mas Tree

Just before setting up the tree, it’s important to trim a little off the bottom. Make a fresh, straight cut, removing an inch or an inch and a half of wood from the base of the trunk. Without the cut, the tree will dry out from not being able to absorb water properly.

Related: 10 Things You Should Know Before You Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree

Once you’re home, get the tree in water as soon as possible. If you aren’t ready to decorate just yet, place the tree in a full bucket of water. For the first 24 hours, a tree can absorb as much as a gallon of water or more, so refill the water as needed.

Related: 8 Things You Never Even Knew About Christmas Trees

The goal is to find a tree stand that fits the tree properly and can also hold at least a gallon of water. For maintenance, check the stand regularly to make sure that the water level does not drop below the base of the tree. The JACK-POST Welded Steel Christmas Tree Stand from Amazon is one of our recommended picks due to its ability to fit various tree sizes and ease of use.

Related: The Best Christmas Tree Stands for Every Size of Evergreen

The key to keeping your tree fresh is replenishing the water daily. Watering helps preserve the tree’s fragrance and also prevents the needles from drying and falling off. The bottom two inches of the trunk should always submerged in water. 

Related: 12 Christmas Tree Decorating Fails

Make sure to place the tree in a cooler area of the house, away from heat sources, such as fireplaces and heaters, and preferably away from the sun (or just keep the blinds drawn). As long as your tree stays moist, it should last several weeks—hopefully even until New Years.

Related: 10 Ways to Decorate Your Xmas Tree for Under $10

Using low-heat decorative lights will help slow the drying of the tree. LED holiday lights, like these from Amazon, are inexpensive and will decrease the risk of a fire because they stay cool. If you opt to reuse lights, always inspect them prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.

Related: The Best Christmas Lights for Any Indoor or Outdoor Display