How To Keep A Christmas Tree Alive: Top Tips To Keep Your Tree Fresh All Through December

It’s time to get excited - Christmas is a mere five weeks away! Now is the perfect time to find your dream Christmas tree and get it set up ready for the celebrations to begin. 

However, it’s important to do some research before setting up your Christmas tree. Christmas trees require some level of care to stay luscious and green. Nothing will make you turn into the Grinch faster than having your Christmas tree wilt away days before Christmas! So, how to keep a Christmas tree alive?

Today, Gossby is here to share with you some simple Christmas tree care tips to ensure your tree stays luscious throughout this holiday season. 

Understanding Your Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree is an evergreen tree that is decorated with baubles, tinsel, and other embellishments. A Christmas tradition, the Christmas tree is synonymous with the joy and celebration of Christmas!

Families gather around the tree to sing carols and share memories. Thoughtful gifts are shared and beautiful moments are shared with families and friends. The Christmas tree is a key element of most families’ Christmas holidays.

A Christmas tree bears the spirit of this Holiday. (Courtesy of Annie Spratt - Unsplash)

So, it’s important to choose a Christmas tree that is luscious, evergreen, and works for your family. But before you choose, you must know what you need. Here's some basic information to get you started.

The Most Common Types of Christmas Trees

There are many different types of Christmas trees to choose from. Each type is unique in its way. That's why you must know your tree.

Check out the following most popular types of Christmas trees there are:

Douglas Fir Christmas Tree

The Douglas fir Christmas tree is very popular. Renowned for its wide, natural cone shape, this tree does not require as much trimming or shaping to provide that traditional plump Christmas tree look. 

The Douglas fir is a member of the Pinaceae family and is a coniferous tree. It has long, flat needles that grow directly from the branch. Usually, the Douglas fir is a luscious deep green color.

Balsam Fir Christmas Tree

This tree is known for its pyramid shape. Balsam firs are commonly a deep dark green and are quite tall. Balsam fir also smells incredible and will retain its scent throughout the entire Christmas season. 

Love the Christmassy scent so much? Get yourself a Balsam fir! (Courtesy of Chad Madden - Unsplash)

It has a spire-like crown and is very shiny. This native evergreen tree survives well in colder climates, which makes it the perfect choice for a wintery Christmas. 

Noble Fir Christmas Tree

The Noble fir Christmas tree is very symmetrical and has high needle retention. This tree is a cooler-toned deep green color and is known for requiring very little upkeep. 

Fraser Fir Christmas Tree

The Fraser fir has an incredible full shape. It’s one of the best-selling Christmas trees on the market. It has incredible silver and green needles which truly make a statement in your home. 

This tree is incredibly strong and can hold a wealth of ornaments. It does require some trimming to get it to the ideal shape for your home. The Fraser fir is quite tall. 

Colorado Blue Spruce

This spruce tree is evergreen and renowned for its unique blue-toned needles. It appears silvery in certain lights. The Colorado Blue Spruce Christmas Tree has very strong limbs and can hold a wealth of ornaments and decorations. 

No matter what type of tree you get, light that bad boy up! (Courtesy of Tessa Rampersad - Unsplash)

This tree does require some upkeep to keep it looking impeccable. You may need to trim this tree when it first arrives to achieve your desired look. 

What Does Your Christmas Tree Need to Survive?

To learn how to keep a Christmas tree alive, first, you need to learn what it requires to survive. Like many plants, Christmas trees require some level of upkeep to survive. All Christmas trees will need the following:

Moisture

Dryness is the fastest killer of live Christmas trees. Live trees need to be watered regularly and should not be located near any heat sources to reduce the risks of drying them out. Check the water levels of your Christmas tree regularly to ensure longevity.

Nutrients

To keep your Christmas tree in its best health, it’s ideal to invest in some Christmas tree fertilizer to ensure it gets all the nutrients it needs.

To keep the Christmas tree indoors long and healthy, water it regularly. (Courtesy of Lynda Hinton - Unsplash)

Light

Christmas trees need limited light exposure to survive. Make sure they aren’t placed indirect light but are still able to receive some light throughout the day to ensure they survive.

Great Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas:

• Christmas Tree Decoration - 10+ Ideas to Bring the Merry Vibe to Your Home
  

• How to Decorate Christmas Trees with only 8 Steps?
  

How To Keep A Christmas Tree Alive: 6 Tips To Maintain The Freshness

Ideally, a live Christmas tree shouldn’t remain inside for more than 10 days. However, this isn’t realistic and we often need our Christmas trees to look fresh for up to an entire month. 

Here are some expert tips to keep your Christmas tree looking fresh for longer:

Pick a Healthy Tree

You need a good starting point to keep your tree healthy and fresh. Picking a healthy tree to start with will save you a lot of headaches going forward.

Only choose trees that are healthy. (Courtesy of Alsyshka - Unsplash)

Unhealthy trees have the following characteristics:

• No scent. Crush the pines in your hand, a healthy tree will emit a lovely fresh scent. If there isn’t a scent, don’t buy it. The tree is not healthy.

• If the needles come off with ease, the tree isn’t healthy. You should be able to run your hands down a branch without removing many needles. 

• You can also bounce the tree to check if the needles fall off or not. If they do, don’t buy.

• Healthy trees will look shiny and brightly colored. If the tree appears dull, it’s a bad apple and you should avoid it.

• Does the trunk look healthy? Any signs of rot mean the tree should be avoided.

Trim Properly

Regular trimming will help your Christmas tree keep its shape and will make it look healthy and fresh. You should trim your tree once every couple of weeks if needed. 

Make sure to trim your tree properly and follow tips from professionals to ensure the health and wellbeing of your tree.

Water Regularly

Dryness is the biggest enemy of healthy Christmas trees. It’s important to water your tree regularly and check the water levels of your Christmas tree daily to ensure your tree doesn’t dry out. 

We recommend watering at least once every 2 days. Keeping the stem moist is one of the most important parts of how to keep a Christmas tree alive indoors.

Avoid Direct Heat

Direct heat will burn your tree and dry it out. For best results, limit the amount of direct heat your tree is exposed to to keep it looking fresh and plentiful. 

Avoid any direct contact with heat or excessive lightings, except for the ornament lights. (Courtesy of Lasse Bergqvist - Unsplash)

Heaters, fireplaces, and well-lit windows will all cause your Christmas tree to dry out. Avoid these at all costs. 

Limit Exposure To Light

All trees need light to survive. However, too much light is a death sentence for your Christmas tree. Try to keep it out of direct light as much as you can. If your tree is lightweight, move it into the light for an hour and then move it back into the shade to ensure its longevity.

Use Preservatives

A Christmas tree preservative will help keep your tree looking fresher for longer. Although straight water is all you need to keep your tree alive, a preservative will keep it looking fresher for longer.

Take Great Care Of Your Christmas Tree!

It’s an exciting time of the year. Christmas is right around the corner and it’s time to start decorating. You must pick up how to keep a Christmas tree alive. Follow the tips above to ensure it is looking fresh and fabulous for longer.

We recommend choosing either the Douglas fir or Fraser fir Christmas tree due to their ease of care and plump, beautiful finishes. These Christmas trees are sure to stay lively for longer and look impeccable within your home. 

Investing in preservatives, being careful with your light sources, and focusing on reducing dryness will all help to keep your tree looking as luscious and fresh as possible for longer. Make sure to do your research on the type of tree that you’re looking to have in your home to give your Christmas tree the best chance.

Get On The Holiday Spirit:

• Christmas in 2022: History, Date, Tradition and More
  

• How to Celebrate Christmas in 2022 | A Step-by-step Guide for a Festive Holiday
  

• Christmas Trends 2022 - How Will The Holiday Season Look Like?