Keeping it Simple: How-To Care for a Christmas Tree
There’s nothing like bringing a natural Christmas tree home and decorating it with family and friends. These trees are symbolic of the season and bring back old memories — and who doesn’t love the smell of a fresh Christmas tree? Even those fancy candles can’t quite replicate this special holiday scent!
This year, if you’re planning on bringing an authentic Christmas tree into your home, whether it’s your first time or an annual venture to the Christmas tree farm, it’s important to brush up on some safety tips. Our team at Sandbox has put together a list of all the essential things you need to know about tree care, so you can prevent any potential losses this year and use the utmost precaution.
Picking the right tree.
There are dozens of trees standing before you, some short, some tall, and some full, so how do you know which one to pick? While many gravitate toward the size that will appear the best in their home, there are other factors you should consider. First, the tree should be in good health. You can tell this through the pine needles. If the needles fall off when you touch them, the tree is malnourished or was cut off from its stump too long ago. The pine needles shouldn’t appear overly fragile; this is another helpful indicator that it may be best to select a different tree… you don’t want a Charlie Brown situation on your hands. Secondly, the colour of the tree is your next helpful determinant. The colour of the tree should be a vibrant shade of green, proving that it’s been well-watered and tended to. Try looking for Christmas trees that are this colour:
Placement of the tree.
If you are planning on putting the tree inside your home, you must be strategic. If your tree is placed too close to certain household items, it can pose a serious fire hazard. Your tree shouldn’t be near any heaters, vents, appliances, fireplaces, candles, or any other heat source in your home. Not only will this extend the livelihood of the plant, as it will stop it from drying out, but it will also eliminate fires from getting to your tree. When your tree starts to dry out, like any plant, it will look wilted, change colour, or shed pine needles all over the floor. Secondly, put your Christmas tree in an area of your home that isn’t blocking an exit in case of an emergency. If you need to get out of the room and it’s slightly blocking the only door there is… well, that’s not ideal. So, where should you place your tree? Well, if you’ve found the perfect spot in your home and it’s not being impacted by a heat source or obstructing a crucial doorframe, then that’s its new home for the holidays!
Watering the tree.
After shaving an inch or so off the bottom of the trunk when you get home, place it in a pot or tree stand full of water. Don’t let this pot run out of water; continue to fill it each day. A great rule of thumb is that the trunk line should always be submerged in water. In the first week, your tree will consume the most water, so keeping the pot as full as possible is key to a healthy, long-lasting Christmas tree. On average, a Christmas tree will consume two litres of water a day, so make sure it gets all the unlimited refills it needs.
Decorations and lights.
This is one of our favourite parts of owning a Christmas tree but it’s important not to get carried away. You can still take safety measures to prevent potential losses and perils in your home this December. First, before stringing the lights on your tree, check for wear and tear and replace any worn-out bulbs. Second, ensure you’re using the right lights for your space. For instance, if your tree is going outside, use outdoor lighting. For indoor use, select the appropriate indoor lights. Using LED lights instead of incandescent, for example, use less power and produce less heat, making them the optimal choice for Christmas tree lighting. Next, be mindful of your household outlets. Overloading outlets can cause sparks and possibly blow breakers. And lastly, make sure to turn the tree off before going to bed and leaving home. A tip from us is to set your Christmas tree lights on a timer; this way you can be sure you won’t forget to turn it off — but remember to disconnect it when you’re not at home.
Disposing of the tree.
We dread the day the Christmas trees need to be disposed of, but it must be done the right way and with precaution. Check where the appropriate tree disposal drop-offs are located in your area and ensure it is watered thoroughly before disposing of it.
If you follow all these safety tips, you can rest assured that your Christmas tree is protected and will thrive in its surroundings. We all know that peace of mind doesn’t always come with preventing a tree from drying out but with the right insurance policy for your home. With Property Insurance in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta from Sandbox Mutual Insurance, your home or condo gains coverage for your contents and personal property, a variety of liability limits and deductible options, optional coverages of home systems protection, and more! Get a home insurance, tenant insurance, or condo insurance quote from a broker near you.