How Do You Preserve a Christmas Tree and Keep It Fresh and Green?

Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like handpicking the live Christmas tree that will bring warmth and cheer to your home. 

So, you want to make sure it stays fresh and bright through all the festivities. After all, live Christmas trees are the heart of the holiday season.  

That’s why Teresa from Florida reached out. She asked, “I always was told that the Christmas tree needed a tree preserve, but this year, I haven’t been able to find any. I do water daily. Any secrets of what I could use as homemade solutions?"

Read on to see if you need to add any preservatives to your Christmas tree water.

What preservative ingredients keep the Christmas tree green and fresh? 

Should I use warm or cold water for my Christmas tree?

Water is water! Cut trees will soak up as much H₂O water they can get, so no need to worry about fiddling with the water temperature. They aren’t picky.

Instead, what you should measure is the amount of water. Live Christmas trees are parched after being brought inside. They can drink up an entire gallon of water in one day.

The best way to keep your Christmas tree fresh all season is to find a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water. During the first two weeks after you get the tree, it will need more water, so check it at least twice a day to ensure the stand is never empty. After that, check once a day.

Should I add aspirin in Christmas tree water?

Additions like aspirin, honey, corn syrup or bleach have been tried out over the years. But our Davey tree scientists say, based on university research, there really aren’t any benefits to adding any of the above. Plain ol’ tap water is all you need!

Instead, focus on giving your tree hydrated and see if you can improve its water uptake by clicking below.  

Help trees drink more water with this trick!