Freshness: See and feel for yourself
- Give the tree a small shake. A few falling brown needles are common, but falling green needles warn that the tree is dry.
- Gently grasp a branch and pull it toward you. Only a few needles should come off in your hand if the tree is fresh.
- Avoid trees with stiff needles that are losing their color.
Keep it fresh
- When you get your tree home, cut 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the end and put the tree into water immediately.
- If you are not ready to put your tree up right away, keep it in a cool and shaded area such as a garage or covered porch.
- The single most important thing you can do to keep your tree fresh is to WATER, WATER, WATER! A fresh cut tree may take up as much as a gallon of water on the first day and a quart or more on the following days.
- Display your tree in an area away from heat sources such as registers, radiators and fireplaces. These heat sources will dry the tree out quickly.
Keep it safe
- Use newer model lights with in-line fuses to avoid overloading.
- Display your tree away from sources of fire or hear such as fireplaces and candles.
- Always turn off tree lights when away from home and before going to bed.
- According to the National Fire Protection Association, Real Christmas Trees are involved in less than 1/10 of one percent (0.1%) of all residential fires.
