Community Corner

10 Easy Tips to Care for Your Christmas Tree

About 40 percent of Christmas tree fires involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction between 2000 – 2004, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

With Thanksgiving a few days behind us, many families are turning their attention toward buying a Christmas tree.

The National Christmas Tree Association wants customers to keep a few safety tips in mind when they purchase their tree. Consumers also need to know how to care for it once it's in their home.

  • Select a tree in good condition.
  • Make a fresh cut on the trunk and place in water within 6-8 hours.
  • If necessary to store temporarily, store in water in a cool location.
  • Display indoors in a stand adequate to hold the tree securely and provide an adequate water capacity – at least one quart for each inch of stem diameter.
  • Check the water level daily and replenish as needed to maintain the water level above the bottom of the tree trunk.
  • Display tree away from heat sources that may cause tree to dry.
  • Use only listed lights that produce low heat.
  • Inspect lights before using and replace if wiring is worn or frayed.
  • Do not overload electrical circuits.
  • Monitor tree for freshness. If it becomes dry, remove it from home immediately and dispose of properly.

Find out what's happening in Potomacwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here