Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree Care

Christmas trees are a holiday tradition in many Canadian homes, and what’s more Canadian than braving the cold winter weather to bring home a freshly-cut Christmas tree? Sure, an artificial tree is super convenient, and the dog likely won’t be as keen to pee up it, but really, nothing can beat the look, feel and smell of the real McCoy!

Picture this - you’ve dragged the family out into a muddy field; spent two hours deciding on ‘the one’; done your back in cutting the thing down, hoisting it onto the roof of the car, and wrestling it into the house. Time to put your feet up with a glass of mulled wine and watch the kids lose their minds while they throw all the sparkles at it? Not quite. You see, no one wants a dry and brittle tree to wake up to on Christmas morning, so there is a little more effort required on your part if you want your tree to go the distance. 

With proper care, most real Christmas trees should last at least five weeks or more, so, to stop your tree from grinching, and to make sure it stays in tip top condition throughout the whole holiday season, follow our recommendations below: 

Choose the best tree - in order for your tree to stay as fresh and full for as long as possible, pick the healthiest tree you can. Opt for one from your local Christmas tree farm. Look for a healthy and green tree with the least amount of brown needles. Touch the tree; the needles should feel pliable and not fall off. If purchasing a pre-cut tree, ask that the seller make a fresh cut straight across the base of the trunk as this gets rid of any dried-over resin that might stop the tree from absorbing  water. 

When you get home - keep your tree in a sheltered, unheated spot, such as a porch or garage, to protect it from the elements until you’re ready to bring it indoors. Place the trunk in a bucket of fresh water so that sap from the tree does not form over the cut stump and block the tree’s absorption abilities. If it does, you’ll need to make a new cut prior to bringing the tree indoors. 

Setting up the tree - Clear space in the room where you plan to display your Christmas tree. Place your tree in your tree stand (consider using a tree removal bag to protect floors and carpets). Tighten the bolts and fill the base with fresh clean water. 

Watering Your Christmas Tree - if you want to keep your tree looking and smelling as fresh as possible, it’s really important to keep the tree stand filled with water. Dried sap will quickly form over the cut stump if the water drops below the base of the tree, preventing water absorption and causing it to dry out quickly. The water level should always cover the end of the trunk. If a seal does form, another fresh cut will need to be made or the tree will begin to wilt and drop its needles. Check your tree regularly - it may need a daily drink!

 Keep the Christmas tree away from heat sources - roaring fireplaces are lovely to look at, but Christmas trees do not like them! Along with radiators, air ducts, stoves and sunlight, a regularly-used fireplace will dry your tree out pronto! If you lower the temperature in the room, it can also help slow down the drying process, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

Take your tree down before it dries out - don’t wait too long, or you'll have more dead pine needles to deal with. Use your vacuum cleaner's hose to draw needles directly into the bag or canister. When it’s time to remove the tree from the house, you have a couple of options: You can start a new compost pile with it, recycle it, or turn it into mulch yourself. The City of Toronto has specific collection days for natural Christmas trees in January. Refer to your collection calendar for specific dates.

Whilst we don’t sell real Christmas trees in store, we do have a gorgeous selection of Christmas ornaments! We also carry Christmas cards and lots of lovely gift options for the whole family, so if you’re in need of a bit of extra sparkle, drop by and say ‘hi!’




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