Caring for your Christmas tree

Despite the overwhelming choice of imitation and non-drop trees, Christmas just isn’t Christmas for many people without the fresh pine scent of the traditional Norway Spruce

Buying:

Waiting till last minute may land you

with a dried-out tree. Buy fresh tree in good time

and stand in bucket of water until needed

Appearance:

Strong colour and fragrance

indicates that tree has been cut recently

Condition:

Run your hand

along branch. Needles

should spring

back but

not drop

Care:

Saw 3cm

from bottom

of trunk to remove

dried sap and allow

tree to soak up water.

Place tree in sturdy stand

or bucket of gravel –

add water as needed.

Don’t stand tree

in soil or fine

sand as

pores can

become

blocked

Norway Spruce

can grow to 40m

Safety:

Place tree in coolest

location indoors away from fireplaces

or radiators to prevent drying out

and reduce chances of stray

sparks igniting tree

Do not overload extension cords.

Check tree lights for worn,

exposed or frayed wire and

broken or cracked bulbs

Disposal:

Have old tree

mulched, or cut up for firewood

Sources: Forestry Commission, University of Illinois

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Caring for your

Christmas tree

Despite the overwhelming choice of imitation and non-drop trees, Christmas just isn’t Christmas for many people without the fresh pine scent of the traditional Norway Spruce

Buying:

Waiting till

last minute may land you

with a dried-out tree.

Buy fresh tree in good

time and stand in bucket

of water until needed

Appearance:

Strong

colour and fragrance

indicates that tree has

been cut recently

Condition:

Run your

hand along branch.

Needles should

spring back but

not drop

Norway Spruce

can grow to 40m

Care:

Saw 3cm from bottom

of trunk to remove dried sap and

allow tree to soak up water.

Place tree in sturdy stand or

bucket of gravel – add water

as needed. Don’t stand

tree in soil or fine sand

as pores can become

blocked

Safety:

Place tree in

coolest location indoors

away from fireplaces or

radiators to prevent drying out

and reduce chances of stray

sparks igniting tree

Do not overload extension

cords. Check tree lights for

worn, exposed or frayed wire

and broken or cracked bulbs

Disposal:

Have old tree

mulched, or cut up for firewood

Sources: Forestry Commission, University of Illinois

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Caring for your

Christmas tree

Despite the overwhelming choice of imitation and non-drop trees, Christmas just isn’t Christmas for many people without the fresh pine scent of the traditional Norway Spruce

Norway

Spruce

can grow

to 40m

Buying:

Waiting till last minute

may land you with a dried-out tree.

Buy fresh tree in good time and

stand in bucket of water until needed

Appearance:

Strong colour and

fragrance indicates that tree has

been cut recently

Condition:

Run your

hand along branch.

Needles should

spring back

but not drop

Care:

Saw

3cm from bottom

of trunk to remove

dried sap and

allow tree to

soak up water.

Place tree in

sturdy stand or

bucket of gravel –

add water as needed. Don’t stand

tree in soil or fine sand as pores

can become blocked

Safety:

Place tree in coolest

location indoors away from

fireplaces or radiators to prevent

drying out and reduce chances

of stray sparks igniting tree

Do not overload extension cords.

Check tree lights for worn,

exposed or frayed wire and

broken or cracked bulbs

Disposal:

Have old tree mulched,

or cut up for firewood

Sources: Forestry Commission, University of Illinois

© GRAPHIC NEWS