Since so much time and effort is put into selecting the perfect Christmas tree, it follows that similar consideration should also be given to giving the tree the best possible care. Otherwise, there will be disappointment if needles start to brown or turn yellow, or branches begin to break with days or weeks to go before the season is over. Safety is also an important reason to take proper care of your Christmas tree because a drying Christmas tree also presents a grave danger as a fire hazard. The average Christmas tree should last for about five to six weeks if the proper care is given to it.

After selecting a Christmas tree and getting it home, the first thing that should be done is to make a fresh cut and place it into a stand with water. A Christmas tree shouldn’t be mounted dry and the water in its stand should be replenished regularly. A fresh cut is made by cutting about an inch off the bottom in a slight diagonal shape to help the absorption of water. If a fresh cut isn’t going to be made immediately after getting the tree home, it should be placed in a container with water and left to stand in a shaded area that is away from the wind.

If you do not make a first cut and you leave the Christmas tree exposed to the air, you could have trouble with it since the vessels for transporting water can close up. You can correct this problem by making another cut and then submerging that part of the tree into water right away.

Your Christmas tree should be secure in its stand and it should be placed away from open flames or sources of heat such as furnaces, fireplaces and air vents, all of which may dry it out. Decoration of the tree should also begin after it has been mounted in its stand. Several decoration precautions should be taken to lessen or avoid the Christmas tree being a fire hazard.

Keep in mind to not use ornaments that have an open flame or candles as part of your ornament. It is important to make sure that your Christmas bulbs are working properly, make sure there is no damage to the wiring and none of it is open or exposed. If you find that there are problems with the wiring, then you should refrain from using the Christmas tree lights immediately.

Although the Christmas Tree is the Star of the house during these holidays, it will not hurt to add some Christmas garlands by the stairs or windows , to further enhance the feel of the season.

A good Christmas tree stand should be selected since water is the most important item to getting the longest life out of your Christmas tree. In selecting a stand, find out the amount of water it can hold when a tree is placed in it. Some water will be displaced from the space taken up by the base of the tree so it is important that a selection is not made based on the total volume of water the stand can hold.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the average Christmas tree may absorb up to one gallon of water each day. It is therefore important to check the water everyday and replenish it accordingly. To make sure your Christmas tree gets enough water, the Association recommends that one quart of water is required for each inch of the diameter of the tree’s trunk.

After Christmas is over and your wonderfully decorated Christmas tree has provided much joy, it is important to remove it before it dries out. Options to discard your Christmas will likely depend on the services offered by your municipality.

Some communities specify a pick up date for the tree, while for others; it’s the resident’s responsibility to bring the tree to a specific location. There are still others that simply throw their trees along with their trash. One thing to remember though is to not burn the tree in the fireplace since burning them would cause the formation of creosote, which is an oily, colorless substance.

Another option for you, if you want to be environmentally friendly, is to have your Christmas tree cut up and turning it into mulch.

Article by Michael B. , you can get some discounts in Christmas items like Battlefield of the Mind and all Joyce Meyer Books