As I write this, Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. Last-minute adjustments to menus are being made, grocery lists compiled, and perhaps you’re ahead of the game, having already cleaned the special place settings. Some of us thrive under pressure and may only have a vague idea of what we’re bringing to the table this year. Whatever your method, I wish you the best of luck and the happiest of holidays.
If you’re decorating a live Christmas tree this holiday season, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure the tree keeps its needles through the holidays. If you’re still feeling energetic, cutting your own tree is the best way to ensure you have the freshest tree possible. If you’re visiting a tree lot, ask how long the tree has been sitting there. If it’s been longer than a week, the chances of your tree lasting are slim. Another way to check the tree’s health is to pick it up. If it’s heavy (for a tree), that means it’s full of water and will last longer. A telltale sign that your tree won’t make it is if it drops needles. Pick it up and give it a good thump against the ground. If it rains needles, it’s not the tree for you.
Once you get your perfect tree home, get it into water as soon as possible. If you bought it already cut, cut the bottom of the trunk off so the tree can absorb water. Tree sap in the old cuts hardens and makes it nearly impossible for it to drink the water. There are a few products on the market that you can add to your tree water to help feed your tree during the Christmas season. Miracle-Gro has one that provides nutrients to the tree while keeping bacteria growth down, and it’s pet-safe!
This may go without saying, but keep your tree away from heat sources. Of course, trees are flammable, but hot air blowing on your tree will dry it out much faster than you realize. You might consider having a humidifier running in the room where you have your tree to help add some moisture back into the air. A commonly overlooked source of drying your tree out is using non-LED lights to decorate. LED lights don’t generate heat, which will help prolong the life of your tree. LED lights come in a variety of light temperatures, so you can still get that warm glow we all love.
I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season, and if there’s anything I can do to make your life a little easier this season, please feel free to stop by and visit us. Remember, at Randy’s Do it Best Hardware, we don’t mind your questions. We don’t mind them at all!
