What do I need?

To best care for your tree you will need a stand with a large water capacity, preferably a gallon or more. This tree stand from Lowe’s is a good choice that will safely support all of our trees, and has a generous water capacity. You may also wish to have a tree removal bag to aid in removal at the end of the holiday season.

Once you arrive home

Keep your new tree in a sheltered unheated area until you are ready to bring it inside and set it up in the stand. Keep the freshly cut end submerged in water to keep the sap from closing the end, which will stop water absorption. If you are unable to keep the tree in water until it is set up, you will need to re-cut the end to ensure proper watering. Remove a 1/2” slice from the bottom of the tree when ready to bring it inside.

Tree Location

Choose a location for your tree that is away from heat sources, such as heat ducts or radiators. NEVER place a tree near ignition sources such as a fireplace, wood stove, or candles. A cooler room temperature will help your tree stay fresh longer, as will keeping it out of direct sunlight.

Tree setup

If you wanted to use a tree removal bag, now is the time to lay it out under your tree stand. Bring your tree indoors and place it in the stand, securely tighten the stand bolts, ensuring your tree is vertical. Fill the stand with water.

Watering your tree

To keep your tree fresh as long as possible, it is important to keep the stand filled with water. If water drops below the base of the tree, a seal of dried sap will form within a few hours that will prevent future absorbing of water.

A tree can absorb over a gallon of water in the first 24 hours, and over a quart a day afterwards, so stay vigilant. There are devices available to automatically keep your stand full from a larger reservoir. Be sure to check the water level twice a day for at least the first week when the tree is drinking the most.

There is no need to use any additives in the water. Specific temperature of the water is unimportant, plain room temperature tap water is enough to keep your tree happy.

Lighting your tree

We recommend lighting your tree with LED lights. LEDs produce considerably less heat than incandescent lights, the lower heat helps keep your tree from drying out. Always inspect your lighting sets before placing them on the tree, if they are worn they should be replaced. Be careful to never overload your electrical circuits with lights, and turn them off when going to sleep or leaving the house.