By now, Christmas trees have found their way into many homes. To keep live Christmas trees fresh, beautiful and safe, Clemson University experts say “keep them watered.”
Some of the common types of Christmas trees grown in South Carolina include Virginia pine, Eastern red cedar, Leyland cypress, Murray cypress and varieties of Arizona cypress such as Clemson Greenspire and Carolina Sapphire. Jess Hartshorn, associate professor of forest health, said put live trees in water as soon as possible after cutting,
“But assuming people are not cutting their own trees and are buying them pre-cut, they could always make a fresh cut at the base of the tree to remove any hardened resin and open up the xylem to receive water,” Hartshorn said. “I bet most staff at most tree lots perhaps would make the cut so people buying trees wouldn’t have to mess with it.”
The xylem is the vascular tissue in plants that conducts water and dissolved nutrients upward from roots and also helps to form the woody element in stems.
It’s important to keep Christmas trees watered. Barbara Smith from the Clemson Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) said once a tree is indoors, it should be secured in a stable tree stand that will hold at least one to two gallons of water.
“It’s important to keep the trunk base covered with water and check the water level daily. Keep the tree away from heat sources, such as hot air ducts, radiators, fireplaces and television sets, as heat will quickly dry the tree out,” she said.
More Christmas tree safety tips are available in the Christmas Tree Safety Tips (HGIC 1752) factsheet available from the HGIC.
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