Taking Care of Live Christmas Trees & Greens

Few things bring as much joy to the holiday season as the scent of fresh evergreens in your home. Whether you decorate with live trees, wreaths, garlands or swags, proper care makes all the difference in keeping them healthy all season long.

Here’s your complete guide to keeping your Christmas greenery merry, bright & fresh!

Caring for Live Greens & Wreaths

Live wreaths and greens add natural charm but only if they’re cared for properly. Follow these steps to help them last as long as possible:

Give Them a Good Soak
Before hanging them up, soak your wreaths & greens for at least 24 hours. Yes, you heard us right, soak them! Drying out is one of the most common reasons for live greens to brown & drop needles prematurely, so it’s important to keep them hydrated.

Soaking your greens for an entire day allows them to soak up as much water as possible before being displayed. We recommend submerging them in a plastic bin or bath tub.

Spray the Greens Daily
Staying with the theme of hydration, spray your wreath with water daily, or at least every other day. The best way to keep your greens moist is to use a misting spray bottle.

Damp foliage & flowers will stay fresher for longer, promising an extended period of holiday enjoyment for you!

When misting the wreaths or greens, focus the water on the back of them where the cut ends of the boughs are. Make sure to spray the front, too!

Keep Your Greens Cool
It’s vital to keep an eye on the temperature where you display your wreaths and boughs. Fresh wreaths tend to last longer when displayed in a cool, sheltered area outside rather than inside. Quality wreaths can last up to eight weeks outdoors!

When displaying your wreaths and greens indoors, be sure to keep them away from sunny windows and hot, dry places like fireplaces or heat vents.

Apply an Anti-Desiccant Spray
This is a vital step in ensuring the longevity of your live holiday greens.

An anti-desiccant (or anti-transpirant) spray creates a protective, waxy coating on a plant to help them retain moisture, especially during a frigid & dry winter.

It acts sort of like a lip balm for plants, forming a clear film that slows down water loss through the leaves. It protects against winter stressors like drought & windburn.

We highly recommend Wilt Pruf. It was the world’s first anti-transpirant spray & protects a wide range of plants including: evergreens, hollies, boxwood, roses, rhododendrons and of course, Christmas greens. It works by providing a clear, flexible coating that will not interfere with plant growth, photosynthesis or respiration.

Wilt Pruf comes as a concentrate as well as a ready-to-spray formula.

Apply on a mild, dry day, and make sure it will stay dry for a couple of days. A single application can last up to 4 months during winter, but reapply as needed.

Keeping Your Live Christmas Tree Fresh

With proper care, a real Christmas tree can stay beautiful for up to six weeks! Here’s how to keep yours lush and fragrant through the whole holiday season.

Give the Trunk a Fresh Cut
Before placing your tree in its stand, remove about ½ inch from the trunk. This clears the sealed sap layer and allows the tree to drink properly.

Cut straight across the trunk with a saw
Avoid angled or V-shaped cuts; they make the tree unstable in the tree stand
Don’t drill holes in the trunk; it won’t improve water uptake

Water, Water, Water
A hydrated tree is a happy tree! Use a stand with a large water reservoir with a capacity around 1 gallon. We love the Krinner Tree Genie stands; the reservoir sizes range from 0.9 to 2.5 gallons.

Trees drink more than you’d expect, especially in the first few days. A good rule of thumb is to provide 1 quart (¼ gallon) of water per inch of trunk diameter.

Check the water levels daily, especially during the first week.

Place It AWAY From Heat Sources
Just like other live greens, heat from the furnace or sunlight will dry out your tree quickly. Keep your tree away from radiators, fireplaces, heat vents and direct sunlight.

Lowering the overall room temperature can also slow down the drying process.

Choose LED Lights
LED holiday lights stay much cooler than incandescent bulbs, helping to prevent needle drop and drying. Remember to ALWAYS turn off your lights before bed or when leaving the house.

Get It in Water Quickly
Try to get the tree into water as soon as you bring it home!

Enjoy a Season Full of Fresh, Fragrant Greenery

With a little extra care, your Christmas tree and greens can stay lush and vibrant all season long. Proper hydration and smart placement make all the difference in extending the life of your festive décor.

Here’s to a holiday season filled with fresh evergreens, magical memories and beautifully decorated spaces!