Hoping your beautiful tree lasts the whole festive season? Here’s how to make a real Christmas tree last longer…

Choose wisely

Going to pick out the Christmas tree is great fun. But if you want your Christmas tree to last longer, choose with your head, not your heart.

Make sure you choose a tree with vibrant, green needles that haven’t started to brown. Brown needles are a no-no!

A great way to check the needle retention is to reach inside the tree, gently grab a branch and pull your hand towards you. The needles should stay on the tree and should not drop off.

Trim the trunk

To maximise the length of time your tree will thrive for, it’s important to trim the tree trunk as soon as you get it back to your abode.

You only need to cut off an inch or two in order to expose the bottom of the trunk. As soon as you’ve done this, it’s a good idea to put it in the tree stand and fill it with water straight away.

Update your Christmas lights

A minor detail that you might have overlooked is choosing LED Christmas lights. LEDs do not let out any heat, therefore they are a much safer option and will prolong the life of your tree.

Keep away from radiators

The location of your tree in your home is vital. You might be thinking of the perfect spot, but if it’s near a radiator you may want to have a rethink.

If you place your tree next to a heat source it is much more likely to dry out and start to drop quicker. Not to mention, it could increase the chances of your tree causing a fire.

Feed your tree daily

Watering your real Christmas tree daily is a must. The general rule is that for every inch of tree trunk, your tree will need a litre of water. Making sure the tree stand is full of water everyday will prolong the life of your Christmas tree.

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