Fresh cut tree

[monkeyboy]

Ok didn't get it at a tree farm, but i was cut live.

How much water and best way to care for it?

 

[SaraJayne]

Do you know when it was cut? If it was cut recently (in the last few days) you won't need to make a fresh cut on the stump. If you don't know when it was cut down, make a fresh cut on the stump, taking off a couple inches.

Our trees can take anywhere from a half gallon to a full gallon of water a day...so it needs to be watered daily.

Don't put it up near a constant heat source (heating vent, etc).

I've only ever had fresh trees and that is all I'll ever have.

 

[SaraJayne]

Oh and we always put it up and leave it undecorated for a couple days, so it can warm up and the branches can "fall".

 

[lizanne]

I'll share what we do.

We live in PA (it's cold) so we keep the tree outdoors until about 2 weeks before Christmas. When you're ready to bring it in the house you have to cut off about 1 or 2 inches off the bottom (to help absorb the water). That is a very important thing and must be done. Then put the tree in a tree stand, something like the one's shown on this link


Then you have to fill the bowl of the stand with water. We always use an additive to the water called "Prolong". It really helps to keep the tree fresh. We buy it at a local nursery. I'm sure there must be other products out there that serve the same purpose.

Check the water level on a regular basis (we do it twice a day) and don't let it get dry. If the tree stops drinking water (you'll be able to tell because the water level won't be going down) the tree will start to dry.

Enjoy the holidays.

 

[Muushka]

We always buy ours now, to get a nice one. Then we leave it out on the back porch. Feed it regularly and bring it in about 2 weeks before Christmas.

 

[cglaura]

I have cats, so artificial here, but my friend always added a full bottle of coke to the stand, then fill the rest with water. Then water daily, adding a 1/2 cup coke to the gallon of water. Her trees lasted forever!

 

[taylor3297]

We always cut our own tree for Christmas. If your tree is Frasier Fir then it can seal itself up within an hour of being cut. So I highly suggest to cut 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the trunk, then put immediately in the stand with plenty of water. The first few days it will drink a lot then slowly taper off. Do not put any additives in the water! If it is a fresh cut tree it doesn't need it.

Everything I have learned about taking care of Frasier Firs I learned from the grower. That is the nice thing about cutting down your own tree.

 

[woodkins]

Ok didn't get it at a tree farm, but it was cut live.How much water and best way to care for it?

Aren't all trees cut live
Sorry couldn't resist

 

[SAHDad]

Do you know when it was cut? If it was cut recently (in the last few days) you won't need to make a fresh cut on the stump. If you don't know when it was cut down, make a fresh cut on the stump, taking off a couple inches.

Our trees can take anywhere from a half gallon to a full gallon of water a day...so it needs to be watered daily.

Don't put it up near a constant heat source (heating vent, etc).

I've only ever had fresh trees and that is all I'll ever have.

That's basically it. I would say that you should cut off the bottom 1-2" unless you cut the tree down yourself - some varieties can form a sap plug pretty quickly, which will prevent the tree from drawing water.

Check the water twice a day (I did first thing in the morning and as soon as the kids were in bed), and water as needed.

(We used to have live trees - DWs allergies have gotten worse over the years, so we don't have one any more. Since my father and his siblings own a Christmas tree farm, this took some explaining. )