A real Christmas tree in a Queensland summer is a beautiful thing, but our December heat is not kind to cut pines. The good news is that a few simple habits will keep your tree green, fragrant and holding its needles right through to the new year. Here is how we look after ours.
Start with a fresh, local tree
The single biggest factor in how long your tree lasts is how fresh it is when you bring it home. A tree cut days ago and freighted across the country has already lost moisture before you have even picked it. Our Radiata Pines come straight from the farm and are shipped only a h few hours to our Pinbarren home in the Noosa hinterland. You can pre-order your tree and choose a pick-up or delivery date that suits.
Give the trunk a fresh cut
When a tree is cut, sap seals the base of the trunk within a few hours and stops it drinking. Before you set your tree up, saw 2 to 3 centimetres off the base so the wood is fresh and open. Then get it into water straight away. If you are picking your tree up from us, do the cut as soon as you get home.
Water, water, water
This is the one that matters most. A real tree can drink several litres a day in hot weather, and a thirsty tree dries out fast. Use a stand with a generous water reservoir, like our Tree Mate stand, which holds 8.9 litres, and check the level every morning. Never let the water drop below the base of the trunk, because once the cut seals over again it will stop drinking no matter how much you top it up. Plain tap water is all it needs.
Pick the coolest spot in the house
Where your tree sits makes a real difference. Keep it away from sunny windows, glass doors that catch the afternoon sun, air conditioning vents, and anything warm like televisions or heaters. Direct Queensland sun through a window will dry a tree out in days. A cooler, shaded corner keeps needles supple for weeks.
Be kind to it day to day
A few small habits add up. Switch the tree lights off when you leave the house or go to bed, since even LED lights give off some warmth. If the house gets hot during the day, a quick mist of water over the branches in the evening helps. And keep the reservoir out of reach of curious pets who see it as a drinking bowl.
Know when to say goodbye
Even a well cared for tree has its season. If needles start dropping heavily when you brush a branch, or the trunk stops taking up water, it is time to take the tree down. Check with your local council for green waste options in early January, so your tree can be mulched rather than sent to landfill.
You can find more detail on our tree care page, and as always, 100% of profits from your tree are donated to charity. Merry Christmas from all of us at Noosa Heads Christmas Trees.