How long can you keep a fresh cut Christmas tree? (2023)

How long is a fresh cut on a Christmas tree good for?

While many people start decorating November 1st, even the freshest-cut trees aren't made to last forever. A healthy, fresh-cut Christmas tree will last for four to five weeks if properly cared for.

The key to maintaining a fresh Christmas tree is to keep the bottom 2 inches of the trunk immersed in water, even if that means refilling the stand every day. Keep your tree hydrated and reduce needle drop by adding 1 capful of Miracle-Gro® for Christmas Trees for every quart of water added to your tree stand.

To give them the best chance of survival, only keep a live tree in your house a MAXIMUM of one week. The heat and dry air in a home can really take a toll on a living pine tree. Give trees 2 to 3 days to adjust by letting them sit in a garage or “in-between” transitional spot before and after they are in the home.

Most species of Christmas trees can go without water for as long as 6-8 hours after a fresh cut. Just make sure the surface remains clean and the cut end is not damaged by banging it against the ground.

The cardboard box your tree came in is not ideal for long-term storage. You'll want something that keeps out moisture and pests. A designated Christmas tree box or canvas bag will do the trick. If you plan to store your tree vertically, get an upright storage bag.

Be sure to replace the water that is used each day and don't allow the stand to dry out. Do not add sugar, aspirin, bleach or floral preservatives to the water; plain tap water is all that is needed to keep your tree fresh.

The bottom line is all your tree needs is a sugar source and plenty of water. This can be as simple as adding a couple of tablespoons of plain sugar to your tree's water and watching to make sure there is always plenty of fresh water in your tree stand.

How long do real Christmas trees last? With proper care, most real Christmas trees should last at least five weeks or more. That means, if you decorate for Christmas in late November, your tree should easily survive beyond the holiday festivities.

Let the tree relax before trimming

Once set up, your tree's branches will continue to relax and fall into their final place. Let the branches unfurl completely before you start decorating. This helps ensure your ornaments won't sag over time.

Watering your Christmas Tree:

A freshly-cut six-to-seven foot tree can take in over a quart of water a day. The water basin of the stand should be sufficiently large that the very bottom of the tree will always remain immersed in water. “A tree can't be overwatered,” John says.

How often do you water a fresh cut Christmas tree?

Water daily. A 6-foot Christmas tree requires at least one gallon of water each day to stay fresh. Add more for taller trees and less for smaller ones.

Dried sap will form over the cut surface, forming a waterproof barrier, in about four to six hours, so it's important to get the tree submerged in water within that timeframe.

After cutting your tree, place it in a bucket of water or a water-filled tree stand as soon as possible, advises O'Connor. Most species can go six to eight hours after a trunk cut and still take up water, but sooner is better.

Safety is a major consideration when choosing where to place a Christmas tree at home. Make sure that your tree doesn't block natural light and isn't exposed to direct heat. Also, avoid placing it in areas where it could stand in the way of people passing.

First of all, your Christmas tree should always be stored in a cool, dry place to prevent it from acquiring a musty odour while in storage. Sometimes, at point of purchase, your tree will come with a storage bag. However, if not, you can buy a range of Christmas tree storage boxes or bags from a range of retailers.

After you put up your Christmas tree, fill the tree stand reservoir with boiling water, says Phil Eichler of the Urban Gardener in Chicago. The hot water liquefies sap that has hardened at the base of the trunk since the tree was cut and frees up its circulatory system, he says.

The National Christmas Tree Association recommends using ONLY plain water in tree stands – and plenty of it! These professional tree farmers specifically recommend against using anything other than plain tap water.

So how do you keep your tree fresh? There's an old wives tale that putting hot or warm water in the Christmas tree stand makes it last longer. But if you ask the National Christmas Tree Association, that doesn't make a difference. They say the real game changer is a fresh cut.

The National Christmas Tree Association says the best way to keep a Christmas tree hydrated is plain fresh water. Adding aspirin, soda, bleach, corn syrup, sugar or preservatives are unnecessary and actually can be detrimental. They can decrease moisture retention and increase needle loss.

Does 7UP help Christmas trees?

According to a Q&A on Gardens Alive, 7UP is the “best addition” to watering your tree and should be added, along with water, every few days.

Sugar Water Effectiveness

Advocates of using sugar water for Christmas trees say that the mixture acts as artificial sap or food for the tree, thereby helping the tree to live longer.

Now some people may ask themselves, “When is the right time to cut down my Christmas tree?” If you take good care of your Christmas tree, it can last up to six weeks, so you should be able to pick yours at the beginning of December and still have it looking green and smelling fresh come the New Year.

Keep your Christmas tree in a sheltered, unheated area such as a porch or garage to protect it from the wind and sun until you are ready to bring it indoors. Keep the trunk of the tree immersed in a bucket of water so that sap from the tree does not form over the cut stump and block the trees ability to absorb water.

Immediately put your fresh tree into a pail of water, and hydrate daily. Fire experts said it's a fire hazard to put a fresh tree in the house now and leave it there for weeks. "We recommend that thing stay in the house 10-14 days maximum and then out it goes.

This all needs to be done a year (or years) in advance. Grass is planted in the fall, and the trees get planted in early spring. From there, it takes about 6-8 years for the trees to grow to a marketable height.

Plain tap water is all you need — the report cautions against adding sugar, aspirin, bleach, floral preservatives or other additives to the water. Some of those additives, like bleach, can actually cause damage to trees and plants.

Put the tree in water as soon as possible

Remember: You're bringing home a live plant. If you want to keep it fresh, it needs to have adequate water. "Water is the absolute most important thing you can do to preserve your tree for Christmas," says Jane Neubauer, co-owner of Sugar Pines Farm in Chesterland, Ohio.

Replanting Cut Trees Isn't Possible

However, even a freshly cut tree has been separated from its roots and replanting a Christmas tree without roots simply isn't possible. If you're determined to plant your Christmas tree, purchase a tree with a healthy root ball that has been securely wrapped in burlap.

"You should really be watering your tree daily," says O'Connor. "Especially during the first seven to ten days, which is when they take up the most water." For a standard size tree with a trunk diameter in the 5-inch range, you'll want to maintain at least 5 quarts of water in your stand each day.

When should I put my Christmas tree up 2022?

The Day After Thanksgiving

Many choose Thanksgiving Day as a marker to the end of fall and the beginning of winter—and what better way to usher in winter than with a Christmas tree? In fact, most home etiquette writers say that Black Friday is the earliest you should put up your Christmas tree.

While it might seem like a festive treat for the neighbors, it could lead to problems for your home and electricity over time. Before leaving lights on, check the label to determine whether the bulbs and wattage can handle a long night of illumination. Generally, we recommend turning them off before bed.

Make sure to keep your tree at least three feet away from any heat source. Water the tree every day, and remove it from your home after Christmas or once it becomes dry. Don't burn Christmas tree branches or wrapping paper in your fireplace. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that could burn.