Maintaining the Freshness of Your Christmas Tree: A Guide to Proper Care

When a Christmas tree is freshly cut, over half of its weight is water. To ensure your tree remains vibrant throughout the holiday season, follow these essential care tips:

1. Choose the Right Stand: Display your tree in a traditional reservoir-type stand to effectively maintain freshness and minimize needle loss.
2. Make a Fresh Cut: Before placing the tree in the stand, make a clean, perpendicular cut, removing about a 1/2-inch thick disk from the base of the trunk. Avoid angled or V-shaped cuts, as they hinder stability and water absorption.
3. Promptly Place in Water: As soon as you bring the tree home, immerse it in water. Most tree species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting before losing water absorption capacity. If necessary, temporarily store the tree in a cool location with its cut trunk submerged in water.
4. Choose an Adequate Stand: Use a stand with sufficient water-holding capacity—aim for 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices that maintain a constant water level are also available.
5. Avoid Trunk Whittling: Select a stand that fits your tree without whittling the trunk. The outer layers of wood are most efficient at absorbing water and should not be removed.
6. Keep Away from Heat Sources: Place the tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, and direct sunlight. Lowering the room temperature slows the drying process and reduces daily water consumption.
7. Monitor Water Level: Check the stand daily to ensure the water level does not drop below the base of the tree. Even if the stand still has water, if the base is not submerged, the tree is not receiving hydration.
8. Use Low-Heat Lights: Opt for lights that produce minimal heat, such as miniature lights, to reduce tree drying. Inspect light sets before placing them on the tree and replace any worn-out bulbs or wires.
9. Turn Off Lights When Away: Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or going to bed. Avoid overloading electrical circuits for safety.
10. Monitor Tree Freshness: Regularly check the tree for signs of drying. If the tree becomes dry or after the holiday season, promptly remove it from the house.
11. Recycle Responsibly: Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace. Instead, recycle your Christmas tree, as it is 100% recyclable.

The Richardson Farm was homesteaded in 1836 by Robert Richardson who emigrated from England. What once was a small farm of 240 acres, has grown over the years to include 544 acres and 2 farmsteads. Today, in addition to the traditional crops of corn and soy beans, we care for over 50,000 Christmas trees each year and have a 28 acre cornfield maze for you to visit during the Fall. In 2021, we added a spring Tulip Festival and an early fall Sunflower Festival.

The 5th and 6th generations of the Richardson family and their spouses own and work on the farm. Other siblings come on busy weekends to help during the corn maze and Christmas seasons.

We hope you enjoy your visit to our farm. Look around and have a good time.

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