Morton Arboretum Shares Tips For Live Christmas Tree Shopping, Upkeep

LISLE, IL — Shopping for a live Christmas tree involves a lot of consideration, from size to species, to the type of pin needles. Once you've chosen the tree, you're in for watering it and caring for it throughout the season. Morton Arboretum recently shared its tips for selecting and safely maintaining a live holiday tree.

“People commonly purchase real evergreen trees for Christmas well in advance of Dec. 25,” Arboretum Plant Clinic Manager Spencer Campbell said in a statement.

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Campbell added, “It’s crucial to not let your tree dry out and become a fire hazard. A well cared for tree, with a constant water supply, should remain green and fragrant for several weeks, well through the holidays.”

Here are the Christmas tree care tips the arboretum's plant clinic recommends:

• Water, water, water: make sure that bark is undamaged, so the tree can absorb water. They recommend using a tree stand with a minimum one-gallon capacity.
• Make sure the stand is the right size for your tree
• Fresher trees last longer and dry out less readily
• Check that needles are green, flexible and firm to help ensure freshness
• Carefully pick your species of pine tree
• Keep trees away from heat sources
• Store fresh trees in water before you put them up
• Check water levels in your tree stand twice a day
• Keep water levels above the bottom of your tree trunk
• Avoid adding things to the water
• Check needles regularly while the tree is up
• Avoid using lights that run hot

If something comes up with your Christmas tree that you need help with, you can email the plant clinic at plantclinic@mortonarb.org to get advice at no cost.