Hi I'm Tess

[TJM]

I'm a Brit now living in NC. The Christmas season in the UK is somewhat different to here in the US, something i'm still adjusting too. I've not done much in the way of decorating and cooking the past few years, something I'm going to change this year.

My biggest challenge is going to be the Christmas tree. I'm used to getting a tree the week before Christmas, taking it down on twelfth night. Here trees are available from Thanksgiving onwards and by the second week in December are all but gone. I don't know how I'll be able to keep a tree alive and not dried out for a month! Any tips will be most appreciated.

Tess

[Craig]

Hey Tes! Welcome to the forum! I am no expert on live trees, I will leave advice on that issue to some of the brilliant minds on the forum (don't worry, someone will be able to help you!

WELCOME!:)

[ij20me]

Tess Welcome and Merry Christmas in 47 days.

If you have to purchase your tree right away and do not want to put it inside the home until you are ready here is my thought. I have had to do this because of our busy schedule over the years. Find your tree base to the tree and put the tree into the base and leave it outside. Water the tree daily. When you are ready to bring it inside, cut a little more off the trunk to bring up some fresh bark. Make sure the tree is unwrapped while it is outside though, or it will stay tight. You can wrap it if you need to, with bags that are made for tossing the tree after the holidays. Make sure you shake the tree prior to bringing it inside though, as little critters like to climb.
I only had to do this for a 5 days at most before bringing it inside our home and had an opening big enough to get it through.

[Rybcon]

Welcome to THE Forum

[Just Whisper]

Hi Tess, welcome. Like ij said, cut an inch or so off the bottom until you have fresh wood. Your first watering should be warm water to help keep the sap moving through the tree easily and help it accept water. Contrary to old myths there is nothing you can put in your tree base that will help it live longer. So save your money. Just be sure to water it each day and do not place it in front of your heater vent. That will dry it out. The life of your tree will mostly depend on where you bought it and when they cut it. I have had trees that lived for 2 weeks after New Years, and one year I had to go out 2 days before Christmas and buy a new one because mine died so early. Keep in mind that those trees were mostly all cut around the same time. Buying it later in the season won't make it any fresher. Buy early and get it in some water sooner. Plus you'll have a better selection.

[Sickie Ickie]

Welcome Tess. :)

The National Christmas Tree Association (http://www.christmastree.org/home.cfm) has these tips:

How to Care for Your Farm-Grown Fresh Christmas Tree
When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your displayed trees. Below are a number of tips relating to the care of displayed trees:

Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.
Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Don't bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.
If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.
To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.
Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.
Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.
The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.
Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.
Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.
Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.
Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.
Do not overload electrical circuits.
Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.
Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.
Go to www.realchristmastrees.org and type in your ZIP code to find a recycling program near you.
Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.

[ij20me]

Overload circuit breakers. I do that all the time. I just keep adding until it pops, then I know I have reached the limit!

[Hermey]

Welcome Tess.

[putrid]

Howdy TJM! Welcome to the forum!

[chris]

Welcome to Christmas Fan Club!

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Welcome to the forum, Tess!

[jimcim]

Welcome Tess,
Here on Long Island we get around your tree problem by going to a Christmas Tree farm and cutting it ourselves.
This way we always know that it is fresh.
Jim