Christmas Tree Care / Life Extension During Advent

The fresher your Christmas tree is before it graces your festive living room, the longer it will last in its stand. That's why it can be worthwhile to check if the nearest forest office or a local forest owner offers their own trees. Or perhaps there's even an option to cut your own tree? Besides freshness, there are other reasons to choose a tree from local forestry. Such an offer can also turn into a truly original family outing. Furthermore, local trees ultimately benefit in terms of freshness from shorter transport distances.

Even if you don't want to wield the axe yourself, when buying a Christmas tree, simply ask for local produce with short transport routes. By the way, freshly cut or dug-up trees can be transported home most cleanly in a so-called tree carrying bag. To fit well into the trunk or onto the roof rack of the car, they are usually netted by the seller or on site in the forest.

Until it's set up, the freshly cut tree, ideally still netted, should be placed outdoors in a bucket filled with fresh water. Before the tree is brought inside to be set up – usually on Christmas Eve or the evening before – it should possibly be re-cut. This is particularly recommended if the tree has been standing in the water bucket for a longer time. Be sure to use a stand with a water reservoir. Models that emit a warning sound when water needs refilling are practical. Longer durability can possibly be achieved by adding flower fresh-keeping solution. If possible, avoid placing it near a heater.

If the Christmas tree is to be planted in the garden after its use, only a specimen with a root ball is suitable. However, these often suffer from the drastic temperature change. Sometimes it can happen that such a tree does not recover properly. To avoid this, it should be considered whether it would be possible to place the potted Christmas tree, complete with outdoor string lights and decorations, on the balcony or terrace. On frost-free days, it should be watered a bit, as this significantly reduces stress for the tree. However, if that's not possible or desired, the tree should be gradually accustomed to the warm or cold temperature, preferably in stages, both before and after the holiday. This helps reduce stress for the tree. Watering should not be forgotten here either.