How soon can you put up a fresh Christmas tree from a lot?

[WDWorld2003]

We purchased our tree last night at a local lot - yeah - one thing done! We usually store it in our porch and wait until about the 10th-15th of December to put it up so it stays fresh (at least that's my DH's philosophy). It's usually pretty dry by the time we take it down on New Year's.

Does anyone put theirs up earlier? I'm not sure if waiting makes any difference - would love to hear your experiences with live trees. Thanks in advance

 

[Dana49]

We usually tag it this weekend and then cut it in a couple of weeks. We put it up the day after we cut it and it stays fairly fresh until New Year's. The problem with picking a tree that's already been cut is the fact that you don't know when it was cut. I would suggest placing it in water and storing it in a cool environment. but not where the water will freeze. The inside of the house is usually quite dry and warm, so the sooner it enters that environment, the sooner it may dry out.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

We have been having a christmas party at our house for the last few years on the weekend of the 10th (or whatever date that weekend falls)...We normally put ours up the weekend before that.....like the first weekend in December?? Make sense?? We take it down right after New Years and yes it is quite dried out by then.
The lot we usually go to had trees already set up a week ago this past Monday.

 

[Skylarr29]

We always puts ours straight into water. I am not sure but I would think that the tree would be drying out and dying if you are keeping it on your porch for 2 weeks. Trees drink about a gallon of water a day.I would put in water at least while outside or bring it in.


http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel172187&site=

 

[Lisa L from MI]

oops....meant to start a new thread

 

[Zurealsoon]

I bring mine home, make a fresh cut and let it "drink" for at least a week in a bucket outside before decorating

 

[graygables]

We used to always put our fresh one up the day afer Thanksgiving and take it down on January 6th (Epiphany)

Here's a tip I learned living in Germany: Make a fresh cut as soon as you get home and *immediately* put it in water MIXED WITH A 4OZ BOTTLE OF GLYCERIN. Keep mixing glycerin in the water as you add it to the tree throughout the season. Our tree always stayed fresh and fragrant until at least Christmas and didn't start to dry out until after New Year's. My mom frequently saved needles as my dad was taking it out to put in potpourri as they were still green and smelled nice.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Be careful and look to see if your tree has been sprayed green if you bought it from a lot. It could have been cut much earlier and sprayed to look pretty and will dry out much quicker. We werent paying attention last year and bought a tree like that right after Thanksgiving. We faithfully watered it and because it was so green and beautiful we kept the lights burning on it. Well when we went to take it down we were appalled and shocked that we didnt have a fire. The tree was SO dry it wasnt funny. You couldnt tell this untile you really handled the tree because it was so pretty and green from the spray paint. We decided no more real trees after that. I would rather get some christmas potpourri to get that tree smell. Actually most of the trees we get down here dont smell anyway.

 

[KarenAylwood]

We just cut our Christmas tree down today!!

We also had a discussion about the pre-cut ones (my dad had a funny story of getting a spray painted xmas tree during his earlier years ) and we discussed how you should ALWAYS do a fresh cut if you buy one from a lot. The sap hardens around the bottom once it's been cut and allowed to sit- and it will make a seal around the bottom so that even if you put it in water, it won't absorb any of it.

Never heard about the glycerin trick before. Sounds interesting!!

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks everyone for your replies.... the tree doesn't appear to be sprayed and seems fresh and smells great. We live in the north so I don't know if we should put it in water out on the porch as it may freeze. The glycerine sounds like a good idea but where do you buy it?

The lot we purchased it from uses the proceeds to support disadvantaged youth so we really felt it was going toward something worthwhile.

 

[graygables]

I always bought glycerin at the drugstore. The grocery store sometimes had it, too. Enjoy your tree!

 

[jewellmmc]

My dad owns a christmas tree lot. He usually starts opening it now, but we think putting it up in about eight days is beneficial to the trees needles. As soon as they dry out, you can't even touch the tree without a bunch of needles coming off.

 

[Meriweather]

Watch out for the lots.....a lot of those have already been cut and transported several weeks earlier.
We always cut ours at a farm somewhere near. Let it drink for a couple of days. Put it up second weekend....and in a container that has water.

 

[ChristmasElf]

We always have an artificial tree, but my brother insists on getting a real tree. His wife puts 7 up in the water and the tree lasts through New Years.

 

[CamColt]

I usually get mine and put it up the weekend after Thaksgiving. It lasts until Christmas, but it is usually a bit dry by then. I dont care because I take it down the 26th anyway. As long as its still standing on 12/24 when I have company, I'm ok with it being dry.

 

[ReggieB]

Like a lot of you I stick my tree in a bucket of water for a few days. Also when I bring it in finally, I cut the wrapping off and let it settle. The reason I don't cut the wrapping stuff off first is that it's a real pain to carry it through our house. Luckily we usually get a pretty big tree each year, but carrying it through from the garage to where we usually put it invloves three doors, and unwrapping it before then usually means a lot of needle drop as we drag it through! I'm also allergic to the needles, so if it's nicely wrapped I don't get too many itchy spots!! Don't you hate the sap though? It's nearly impossible to wash off!!

Happy decorating to you all.

 

[monarchsfan16]

We usually buy ours from a lot about the second weekend of December and put it up that day. We make a fresh cut, then stick it in the stand with lots of water and let it settle. Once it's settled (we give it 6 hours to a day depending on the conditions that we got it in), we decorate it. It's usually still fine by the time we take it down the week between Christmas and New Years.

 

[golfgal]

We usually buy ours from a lot about the second weekend of December and put it up that day. We make a fresh cut, then stick it in the stand with lots of water and let it settle. Once it's settled (we give it 6 hours to a day depending on the conditions that we got it in), we decorate it. It's usually still fine by the time we take it down the week between Christmas and New Years.

We cut ours down, but otherwise we do the same as you. I might try the glycerin that someone else mentioned, though.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

We go to a local tree farm and cut our own tree down.This year our boys were old enough to do the cutting themselves (great memories!)

Our tradition is to cut our tree T'giving afternoon. My DH makes a fresh cut when we get it home, and drills a hole into the bottom of the trunk.
Then we bring it inside and fill the stand with water. It usually drinks alot of water the first week, then settles down some.We make sure and water it every single day.

Our trees have always lasted thru Dec 27th when we take it down.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Gosh, you're bringing back childhood memories! The live tree went up two weeks before Christmas. Dad always put it in a bucket of water overnight before it went up. Back then, the local fire dept. also sprayed trees with flame retardant if you took it to the firehouse. Can't find any place I've been to do it since.