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Water, Water, Water

Tips for caring for a live Christmas tree

Eloise Ogden/MDN James Lowe, manager of Lowe’s Floral in Minot, explains how to take care of a fresh Christmas tree. One of the main things is a fresh or live Christmas tree requires plenty of water.

One of the sure signs of the arrival of the Christmas season is the start of fresh or live Christmas tree sales.

James Lowe, AIFD & CFD, manager of Lowe’s Floral in Minot, said many people like to have a live tree, especially for its fragrance.

He provided a few tips for having a live Christmas tree in a home or business.

“The only true trick for (keeping) a live tree is water, water, water,” he said.

“You need a stand with a lot of water capacity and you need to check it daily at the minimum. With a fresh tree the first five days I would check it twice a day because they’re essentially a giant cut flower and they need a lot of water,” Lowe said.

North Dakota Forest Service advises after purchasing a tree, to keep it fresh, store it in a cool, shaded place until ready to bring it indoors. At least one inch should be cut off the stump of the tree before putting it in water. The tree stand container should be filled with water until the tree is discarded.

To be sure a real tree is fresh, check if the needles are green and flexible and don’t come off readily when pulling the branches through your fingers, or bounce the tree on the ground.

According to N.D. Forest Service, real Christmas trees are a benefit to the environment from the time they are planted until after the holiday season. While they’re growing, real Christmas trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off fresh oxygen. The farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect and clean water supplies, and provide habitat for wildlife while creating some beautiful green scenery. Often Christmas trees are grown on soil that doesn’t support other crops. Real trees can be reused and recycled after the holidays – check with your local department of public works for information.

For more information about fresh or live Christmas trees, visit lowesfloral.com.

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