Media Contacts:

Dr. Eric Hinesley, 919/515-1223 or eric_hinesley@ncsu.edu
Kevin Potter, News Services, 919/515-3470 or kevin_potter@ncsu.edu

Dec. 11, 2000

NC State Christmas Tree Expert: Water Is the Key to Proper Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The proper care of a Christmas tree, says a North Carolina State University expert, can be summed up in one word: water.

Dr. Eric Hinesley, professor of horticultural science, says water -- and lots of it -- is all a fresh Christmas tree needs to stay green and fire-resistant. "The best thing you can do is have a big stand that keeps a lot of water in it, and then keep it full. That's the best advice we can give about the care of Christmas trees," he says.

Many people put chemicals -- from bleach to sugar to 7-Up to aspirin -- in tree stand water, thinking that it will extend the life of the tree. That may help preserve cut flowers, Hinesley says, but it makes no difference with a Christmas tree. In fact, some chemicals can even harm the tree.

Hinesley, who has researched the care of cut Christmas trees since the early 1980s, has tested the impact of 10 different commercial preservatives and other additives on needle retention in Fraser firs. preservatives and other additives on needle retention in Fraser firs. He found that the trees that kept their needles the longest were the ones given only clean water.

Most Christmas tree species use up to a quart of water per day for every inch in the diameter of the tree's base, he says. To accommodate this, tree stands should hold at least one to two gallons of water. Smaller "coffee cup stands" will not provide the amount of water trees need.

To facilitate a tree's water uptake, cut a 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch slice of wood from the trunk's base within a few hours of purchasing it, and keep the tree in a bucket of water in a shaded location until it can be set up in a stand. If there's enough length left at the base of the tree, another slice of wood should be removed immediately before placing it in its stand.

Trees typically use more water during the first week after they're set up, so the water level during this time should be checked daily, possibly even more often, Hinesley says. He notes that the height of the tree has less impact on its water intake than does trunk diameter, air temperature and the relative humidity of the air around the tree. Because of this, it's important to avoid placing a tree in direct sunlight or near a heat source, such as a fireplace, radiator or heat vent, which dries out the tree and results in faster deterioration.

While it's important for people to remember that Christmas trees are flammable, Hinesley says it actually takes a great deal of effort to light a well-watered tree ablaze. "A fresh tree that has been well-watered is not a fire hazard," he says. "However, without proper care, a tree can become a potential fire hazard, so it's important not to let it dry out."

A tree's longevity in the stand varies by species, Hinesley says, and also depends on its condition when you buy it. Some species, such as noble fir, balsam fir, scotch pine, Douglas fir and Fraser fir, tend to stay fresh longer than others. But regardless of species, a tree that is excessively dry on the lot will not take up water when you get it home, even after the base of the trunk is cut. And a tree that is losing many needles at the lot will continue to do so even after it is placed in a well-watered stand.

Hinesley offers these observations about the four most commonly North Carolina-grown Christmas tree species:

• Fraser fir: This species, grown in 14 of the state's western counties, can last as long as a month -- the longest of any locally grown tree -- and has excellent needle retention. Of the 6 to 7 million Christmas trees sold each year in North Carolina, more than 95 percent are Fraser firs.

• Eastern white pine: This tree, grown in the mountains and the Piedmont, lasts two to three weeks if kept well-watered.

• Virginia pine: This is a popular tree because it can be grown in the warmer climates of North Carolina's Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions. It lasts 10 to 14 days.

• Eastern redcedar: This tree, grown in eastern North Carolina, was a favorite in "old times," Hinesley says, but "they don't last much more than seven to 10 days."

-- potter --

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