You can make your fresh cut Christmas tree last longer and have a safer holiday by following a few simple steps. People who really enjoy celebrating the holiday started by getting a fresh-cut tree that brings the fresh scent of Christmas into the home. According to Good Housekeeping, you can keep your Christmas tree looking and smelling fresh for at least five weeks.
The first step is to pick out a nice fresh tree. Experts recommend looking for a lush, healthy green tree without any brown needles. You should run a few branches through your hands to make sure the needles feel supple and don't come off. Then lift the tree a few inches off the ground and let it drop onto the pavement or other hard surface to see if an excess of needles falls off. It's OK for a few to break away, but not too many. You want to get the feel of a tree that's pretty fresh.
Then get the seller to make a fresh cut at the base of the tree so it will absorb water. The original cut is likely gummed up with sap, making it difficult for the tree to take up moisture from the water in the Christmas tree stand. If you don't put your tree up right away, put it in a bucket of water. If you're going to wait a few days, consider making a fresh cut about an inch from the base again just before you put the tree up.
