When a fresh Christmas tree is cut at Snow-Crest, over half of its weight is water. With the proper care, you can preserve it's freshness and maintain the quality of your tree throughout the holiday season. Follow these tips to keep your farm fresh Snow-Crest tree beautiful.

Always displaying your tree in water in a traditional reservoir type stand. This is the most effective way of maintaining your tree's freshness and minimizing needle loss.

Make a fresh cut to the base of the trunk of your tree removing about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood before putting the tree in your stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.

Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting and have the trunk still take up water. Try not to bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.

If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. In this situation, place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket of water that is kept full.

When setting up your tree indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for your tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.

Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.

Keep your fresh cut tree away from sources of heat like fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, and direct sunlight. Also, lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.

The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.

Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.

Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.

Using lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of your tree.

Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.

Do not overload electrical circuits.

Always turn off tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.

Monitor your tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.

Go to www.realchristmastrees.org and type in your ZIP code to find a recycling program near you.

Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.

Prepared by Dr. Gary Chastagner and Dr. Eric Hinesley
Edited by the Scientific Research Committee of the National Christmas Tree Association