5 Tips for Harvesting and Keeping a Live Christmas Tree

Here are five tips from the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) for selecting and caring for a live Christmas tree at home:

• Measure the height and width of the space you want the tree to fit before you leave home.
• Wear comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, and bring gloves to the Christmas tree farm.
• Pick a tree with a straight trunk that will fit properly in a stand.
• Fresh trees may use up to a gallon of water each day. Check the water in the tree stand daily.
• Fresh cut trees are biodegradable, so recycle the tree after the holidays.

There are hundreds of “choose-and-harvest” Christmas tree farms around the country. On average, it takes six to 12 years to grow a Christmas tree before it's ready to be sold. For every Christmas tree harvested, farmers plant two to three more in its place.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

Celebrating the holidays with a live Christmas tree is one way to support local farmers and make memories with your family this time of year.  Taking your family to a tree farm to select the perfect centerpiece for your holiday celebration is a great way to start a new tradition, or continue an old one, and it gives you the chance to connect with Christmas tree farmers while supporting the local economy. Perhaps you could get creative and offer to pay for a tree at the local Christmas tree farm when someone purchases a new vehicle from your dealership. Of course, you’ll want to work out the details with your local tree farmer(s) ahead of time. Trust us – that would create a lot of good will. Another avenue to explore is whether the tree farmer would be supportive of your dealership placing one of your trucks (with signage) on their lot. Just throwing out an idea….