Page 7 - IAV Digital Magazine #439

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
How To Make Your Christmas Tree Last Longer This Year
By: Charis Brown
A dead Christmas tree can really put a damper on your holiday celebra- tions. But did you know that there are ways to make your Christmas tree last longer? Follow the steps below to make sure your tree lasts as long as possible this season!
choose a good tree! Mark Derowitsch, a
spokesman for the Arbor Day Foundation, says there are several things you can look for to
select the best Christmas tree that’s sure to last throughout the hol- iday season.
cut your own christmas tree, or purchase one from a local tree farm
“That guarantees freshness, and by going to a local tree farm you know it’s going to be sustainable, so
trees will be replanted, and it will be a selective harvest,”
says Derowitsch.
Selecting a tree from a local tree farm also supports local jobs and reduces emissions from
transporting trees across country
choose organic when possible
Avoid the pesti- cides! Check local- harvest.org for a list of local and organic Christmas tree farmers.
inspect the tree
Feel the needles - —they should be flexible, not dry and brittle. If the needles fall off easily, stay away! Also, the tree should be a nice dark green color, not faded. The fresher the tree, the longer it will last.
Wrap the tree for the ride home Once you’ve found
the perfect tree,
you’ll want to wrap it for the ride home. Wrapping the tree with a tarp or a blanket keeps it from getting dried out and pro- tects it from other damage.
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of transport- ing your own tree though, you can always order one online!
re-cut the stem
If you bought a pre-cut tree, you’ll want to be sure to re-cut the stem. In order for the tree to get the most water to all the branches, re-cut- ting it before you place it in the stand will help it to last longer.
Cut about half
an inch off the bot- tom perpendicular to the stem access.
But, avoid whittling away the outer lay- ers of the wood to make the base fit the stand. The outer layers are the most efficient in taking up water!
choose the right location
Location, location, location! Choose a spot in your home away from heating vents, cold drafts, or direct sunlight. Fluctuating tem- peratures can cause the tree to dry out faster, as can warmer tem- peratures. Also,
putting the tree in a location with a lot of sunlight can lead to quicker fad- ing.
Use low- heat lights
Use smaller lights for your tree, such as miniature bulbs, that emit less heat. This will also keep the tree from dry- ing.
Keep it watered
Lastly, to keep your tree fresh, place the tree in water as soon as you get home,
and make sure there is always water in the tree stand. Use a stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water, or 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter.
When the holidays are finished and you are ready to toss out your tree, consider recycling your tree instead of throwing it away in the trash
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine