The Best Time to Buy a Real Christmas Tree and How to Make It Last Longer, According to an Expert

If you’re hoping to get into the Christmas spirit early, read on.

When it comes to holiday decorations, Christmas trees are among the most debated items, especially when considering whether to buy artificial or real trees. If the latter, timing is of the essence when cutting down your tree!

Dave Hicks, vice president of the Christmas Tree Manufacturers Association of New York, tells PEOPLE exclusively that any time “before Thanksgiving” is considered too early to buy a real Christmas tree and bring it into your home.

Additionally, the 72-year-old Hicks — who says he’s been “in and out of this business all his life,” having gone to forestry school as a child — says that while timing is important when buying the right tree, “it depends on how do you take care of it” afterwards it’s important.

For the best time to buy a Christmas tree and tips on how to make it last longer, according to Hicks’ suggestions, read on!

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When is the best time to buy a real Christmas tree?

Thanksgiving dinner with a Christmas tree.

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While many prefer to put up their Christmas trees before Thanksgiving, Hicks tells PEOPLE that any time “before Thanksgiving” is considered “too early” to buy a real tree compared to an artificial one.

However, the “best time” to catch a real Christmas tree is around the “first to second week of December”. Generally speaking, Hicks says “anytime after Thanksgiving” through Dec. 25 is the suggested time frame for securing the right tree.

Although Hicks says it “totally depends on when it’s cut down” and how “it’s been taken care of,” real Christmas trees can last about “three to four weeks.”

Which real Christmas tree is the best to buy?

Christmas trees grow on a Christmas tree farm.

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While Christmas trees come in various shapes and sizes, there are also several different varieties such as pine, spruce, cypress. Fraser firs generally “last longer” and “last the best,” according to Hicks.

Should I cut the Christmas tree myself or buy a pre-cut tree?

a boy carries a Christmas tree through the snow.

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Just because you’ve decided to decorate your home with a real Christmas tree doesn’t always mean you’re in the mood to cut it down yourself. If that’s the case, Hicks says there are certain factors to look into before buying a farm-cut tree.

“If you go to the farm where they sell them, you can be sure they’re really fresh and probably just [chopped them] two or three days before,” Hicks says. “Whereas, when you buy them elsewhere, it’s questionable when they’re cut.”

Hicks reveals that some stores may be selling real Christmas trees that “could have been cut back in late October,” which is why he assures that a trip to a Christmas tree farm is “a pretty safe bet.”

If you opt for pre-cut wood, Hicks says there are additional steps to take for longevity. Even though the tree is already cut, he says “you need to take at least an inch” off the trunk.

“If it sits for a while before you put it in water, whether you do it yourself or buy one already cut, you need to cut at least half an inch off the bottom to get it to start taking water again,” advises Hicks.

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How to recognize if an already cut down Christmas tree is old?

Yellowed and brown Christmas tree needles.

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If you’re buying a pre-cut tree, there are certain parts of the tree that you’ll want to inspect first. “Check that the needles aren’t dry or falling off,” advises Hicks first, before noting that the changes won’t occur on his branches or trunk.

Some needles may take on a brownish color instead of their beautiful green shade; however, this is not the case for all types of Christmas tree. “If you take a Fraser fir, they’re probably not going to brown, but they’re going to be dry,” Hicks says.

Should I keep my real Christmas tree in the sun?

Decorated Christmas tree near the window.

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Just because a real Christmas tree is a plant, doesn’t mean it has to be in direct sunlight. “That part doesn’t make any difference,” Hicks explains, explaining that this is because the tree has already been cut down.

How often should I water my real Christmas tree?

a person waters a Christmas tree.

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While sunlight won’t affect its longevity, Hicks stresses the importance of consistently watering the tree to extend its time in your home.

“You don’t have to change the water, you just have to make sure the water never gets below where it’s cut on the trunk,” he says. “Because what happens is that as soon as it runs out of water, it immediately starts to shut down.”

“Then they won’t take the water and then you have a problem,” Hicks continues. “The cure for that is to take off all the decorations, take down the tree, cut off the bottom and start over – which wouldn’t be fun, but people have done it.”

“That’s the whole secret,” Hicks repeats. “To not run out of water… ever.”

Does sugar water make Christmas trees last longer?

sugar and water in a glass.

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Over the years, many tips and tricks have emerged to extend the life of a real Christmas tree. Users on TikTok, for example, have shared tricks — like feeding your tree boiling water with added sugar — to help it live as long as possible.

“Everybody has more lady tails than you can imagine,” Hicks says with a laugh when asked about the sugar water hack. “Some of them say that aspirin should be given [the water]!”

Of the tips she personally recommends, Hicks says to use “lukewarm water” the first time you care for your tree “because it helps dissolve the sap so it can absorb water better.” He emphasizes: “But the whole secret is that the water never gets below the bottom of the trunk.”

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What is the best temperature for a real Christmas tree?

a lighted Christmas tree in the living room.

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Hicks says the thermostat in your house doesn’t have to be set to a specific number, but notes that “cooler temperatures help.” But he explains that he and his family “don’t understand [their Christmas tree] until later” in the season because of their busy schedules at the New York Christmas Tree Growers Association. “It’s going to last a good three weeks,” he says of their family’s own tree.

How far should the wood be from the fireplace?

Christmas tree near the fireplace.

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Although “lower temperatures” are recommended to preserve the longevity of the Christmas tree, many fear that higher temperatures will cause it to catch fire. However, improper watering of the tree can cause a fire.

“If you let it get too dry,” Hicks says, “it’s likely” your tree will catch fire. However, he says the risk is just as high – if not higher – for fake trees!

“Your artificial tree is more dangerous to catch fire due to electrical problems with the lighting than a real tree,” says Hicks.

He poses the situation: “If you take a real Christmas tree that hasn’t been cut down, do you think you can set that green tree on fire? Absolutely not.”

“If you keep your wood well hydrated and it doesn’t dry out, it’s the same program,” Hicks explains. “When they catch fire, someone doesn’t have water for weeks.” However, he still says it’s “just sensible” to still keep them away from fireplaces and heating vents, regardless.

“While it’s an artificial tree, it’s petroleum — and I’ve seen artificial trees where there’s a short circuit with the lighting and it burns… and that’s toxic smoke,” he continues. “Can an artificial tree burn? It certainly can.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education