Christmas tree care: ‘Main goal’ when looking after real and artificial Christmas trees

Christmas tree: Expert shares advice on caring for trees

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A sparkling, highly decorated, well-cared for Christmas tree is the key to a beautiful festive display. Whether you have chosen to have a real tree, an artificial one or both, following care tips will ensure they look their best for longer. Real and fake trees will require slightly different care with fake trees needing to be stored correctly and live trees needing adequate water.

An expert at The Home Depot has shared exactly how to take care of your Christmas tree this year.

Live trees

The Christmas tree expert started by explaining how to care for real Christmas trees.

She said: “After you choose the type of Christmas tree that’s best for you, it’s time to start thinking about how to properly take care of it.

“As you can imagine there are a completely different set of issues to consider when caring for a live tree versus an artificial one.

“The main goal when dealing with a live tree is to keep it from drying out.

“How do you make sure that your tree thrives and remains healthy-looking throughout the season? One word: water.”

The expert said as soon as you bring your real Christmas tree home, you need to put it in water to stop it drying out.

She continued: “When you bring your tree home, immediately place it in a traditional reservoir-type stand filled with water to maintain freshness and minimise needle loss.

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“You should also check the water level daily to make sure that it doesn’t get too low.

“Also, never place your tree near heat sources like electric heaters or fireplaces because it will dry out too quickly.”

Putting your Christmas too close to fireplaces can also be a fire safety hazard.

A spark from a fire can ignite a Christmas tree in seconds.

Also ensure you don’t overcrowd your outlets or adapters with fairy lights, this can also be a fire hazard.

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Artificial trees

For artificial trees, it’s less about caring for it when it’s on display but about how you store it.

The expert continued: “Now, when it comes to the care of artificial trees, proper storage is the name of the game.

“When it’s time to take down your tree, make sure that you carefully compress the branches to preserve the lights and needles.

“Afterwards, place it in a storage bag or box to protect it from dust and the elements.”

Another tip is to make sure you store your tree in a place with relatively low humidity levels.

It also needs to be kept in a place where it’s not exposed to extreme temperatures.

Garages without proper insulation, leaky lofts and cold conservatories may not be the best places to store it.

She added: “These precautions will avoid discolouration and ensure that your tree looks as good as new when it takes centre stage in your home again next year.”

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