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