How to look after your Christmas Tree

Below you will find Sam Turner & Sons' step-by-step guide of how to look after your newly bought "real" Christmas Tree. These steps run from the moment you first purchase your tree, right through the full Christmas holiday period.

Prepare the Trunk of your tree

Just before you install your tree, saw off the bottom 1"/3cm of the trunk. This creates a fresh cut and opens up the pores in the bark, which otherwise block up with sap within a few hours of being cut. The tree is then able to drink water through these pores via capillary action.

They need routine

Do not expose your tree to sudden changes in temperature. Keep it away from heat sources. Position your Christmas tree away from any heat sources such as radiators and fireplaces. Heat dries out your tree faster, so the further from its source the better.

Water your tree

Place your tree in plain water – not soil or sand which would block the pores in the bark. This is best achieved by using a specially designed Christmas Tree Stand.

Then keep on watering it!

Keep the Christmas tree stand topped up with water. Your Christmas tree drinks 2-3 pints of water a day, depending on size & your heating. This is very important as once the water level drops below the tree's trunk, sap will re-seal the bark within a few hours, preventing the tree from drinking any further water - even if you then refill the stand.

JUST REMEMBER - ONCE YOUR TREE IS DECORATED...
You won't want to have to saw off the bottom inch of the trunk again. An empty bottle of wine is ideal for this task and a good way of remembering to give your tree a Christmas drink.