Whether you are a newbie or longtime endorser of cutting your own Christmas tree, here are a few pointers that will help keep your Spruce Meadows Christmas tree healthy and fresh throughout the holiday season and well into the New Year, although all bets are off if you try to keep your conifer alive all the way until next Christmas.
The First Cut:
Once you’ve selected your perfect Christmas tree and readied your loner Spruce Meadows hacksaw, (or own axe, hacksaw, or even chainsaw; the latter is not necessary, but certainly not unprecedented), make sure you leave enough trunk space before you make that important first cut. If you slice the base too close to the lowest branches, you’ll have a Dickens of a time putting the trunk into the tree stand, leaving you with only really two clear options: all low branches will need to be carefully carved off (a very tricky maneuver for even a skilled tree surgeon or the legendary Edward Scissorhands himself); or, you should consider getting another tree (hopefully at Spruce Meadows).
The First Cut:
Once you’ve selected your perfect Christmas tree and readied your loner Spruce Meadows hacksaw, (or own axe, hacksaw, or even chainsaw; the latter is not necessary, but certainly not unprecedented), make sure you leave enough trunk space before you make that important first cut. If you slice the base too close to the lowest branches, you’ll have a Dickens of a time putting the trunk into the tree stand, leaving you with only really two clear options: all low branches will need to be carefully carved off (a very tricky maneuver for even a skilled tree surgeon or the legendary Edward Scissorhands himself); or, you should consider getting another tree (hopefully at Spruce Meadows).
Edward Scissorhands will not be able to help you if you cut your Christmas tree base too close to the lowest branches, so leave plenty of room.
Getting Your Tree Home, aka Don’t Cut Off More Than You Can Drive
It’s a good idea to bring an appropriate sized vehicle to get your tree home. But don’t stress if your tree is too big to fit inside your truck, SUV, mini-van, or sedan’s caboose. You can always strap the tree onto your vehicle’s roof, trunk pointed front to back (for better aerodynamics). However, if you happen to cut down a majestic18-foot white pine and drive an eco-friendly Smart Car or sporty two-door Mini, then all bets are off getting that sucker home!
It’s a good idea to bring an appropriate sized vehicle to get your tree home. But don’t stress if your tree is too big to fit inside your truck, SUV, mini-van, or sedan’s caboose. You can always strap the tree onto your vehicle’s roof, trunk pointed front to back (for better aerodynamics). However, if you happen to cut down a majestic18-foot white pine and drive an eco-friendly Smart Car or sporty two-door Mini, then all bets are off getting that sucker home!
This woman should’ve either brought a bigger car, or picked a more modest-sized tree. I admire her ambition though.
The Second Cut (is the most important, so listen up!):
When you get your tree home, cut ¼ or ½ inches off the base, put it into the stand, and fill with water immediately. (Fresh-cut trees are thirsty and can drink up to 4-6 litres of water in the first day and a litre or more on the following days.)
Make sure the second cut is straight; this will make putting the trunk into the stand easier and it’ll also help the tree drink more efficiently.
If you don’t plan on putting your tree up immediately, store it - for no longer than a few days (better freshness) - in a cool shaded area such as a porch or garage. Note: if you don’t re-cut the trunk before putting the tree in the stand, sap will seal the original cut and thus the tree will have trouble being able to drink water.
As William Shakespeare once wrote in Hamlet: Where to put up your Christmas tree, where not to put up your Christmas tree? That is the Question.
To preserve your tree’s freshness once it has been erected in your home, try to keep it away from drying sources such as heating vents, radiators, fireplaces (for obvious reasons), and direct sunlight.
Safety Tip For Dummies:
Of course, nothing says “Traditional Christmas” like a fresh cut tree. But when it comes to lighting your spruce, pine, fir, etc., I highly recommend NOT going traditional, as in decorating branches with lit candles like our hip-but-dangerous forefathers did. Sure, lit candles will look really beautiful, but your house going up in flames will really NOT! That being said, please use newer model lights, and always remember to turn them off when you are not home, or turn in for the night.
When you get your tree home, cut ¼ or ½ inches off the base, put it into the stand, and fill with water immediately. (Fresh-cut trees are thirsty and can drink up to 4-6 litres of water in the first day and a litre or more on the following days.)
Make sure the second cut is straight; this will make putting the trunk into the stand easier and it’ll also help the tree drink more efficiently.
If you don’t plan on putting your tree up immediately, store it - for no longer than a few days (better freshness) - in a cool shaded area such as a porch or garage. Note: if you don’t re-cut the trunk before putting the tree in the stand, sap will seal the original cut and thus the tree will have trouble being able to drink water.
As William Shakespeare once wrote in Hamlet: Where to put up your Christmas tree, where not to put up your Christmas tree? That is the Question.
To preserve your tree’s freshness once it has been erected in your home, try to keep it away from drying sources such as heating vents, radiators, fireplaces (for obvious reasons), and direct sunlight.
Safety Tip For Dummies:
Of course, nothing says “Traditional Christmas” like a fresh cut tree. But when it comes to lighting your spruce, pine, fir, etc., I highly recommend NOT going traditional, as in decorating branches with lit candles like our hip-but-dangerous forefathers did. Sure, lit candles will look really beautiful, but your house going up in flames will really NOT! That being said, please use newer model lights, and always remember to turn them off when you are not home, or turn in for the night.
Remember to turn your lights off when you are not home or go to bed, because you may have to ask Santa for a new house for Christmas.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Spruce Meadows!
By David “Tree-Cutting Champion” Ball
By David “Tree-Cutting Champion” Ball
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