For most people, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a beautiful, lush tree in the living room. However, without the proper care, Christmas trees can quickly dry out before the season is over, making your holiday a little less vibrant or even creating a fire hazard. Whether you’re cutting your own tree or picking up a potted evergreen from a garden center, below are a few tips for keeping your plant alive.

3 Tips for Keeping Your Christmas Tree Alive

1. Acclimate the Tree

Moving rapidly from the cold outside to the warm interior of your house might be a relief for you, but sudden temperature changes are stressful for trees. Whether you’re using a cut tree or a live plant from a garden center, leave it in an unheated area of your home for a day or two. Letting it acclimate in the garage or basement will ease the transition and keep your tree alive throughout the season.

2. Cut the Trunk

If you’re using a cut tree, you’ll want to trim the trunk back an inch or two before placing it in water. This exposes the softer wood underneath and makes it easier for the tree to absorb moisture.

3. Provide Plenty of Water

While giving your tree plenty of water is an important step to keeping it healthy and beautiful, cut trees will absorb moisture quickly, so check the water levels every day. Depending on the size of the tree, it may need a gallon of water or more daily. Live trees with their roots intact may not need as much water, but you do need to keep the soil moist. Add water to the pot as needed, and don’t keep the tree inside for more than a couple of weeks before replanting.

For over 30 years, Lakeview Garden Center & Landscaping has been helping families in the Cincinnati, OH, area celebrate the holidays. They specialize in rare and hard-to-find species, but they also feature a selection of beautiful trees of all shapes and sizes. If you have any questions, get in touch online or by calling (513) 829-6624, and follow their Facebook for more landscaping tips and advice.