If you are one of the many people who loves to have a Christmas tree in the home as soon as possible, then you will want your tree to live as long as it can. After all, a brown-needled, Charlie Brown Christmas tree on the long anticipated day may certainly kill your Christmas spirit as well. There are a number of things that you can do to ensure the longevity and beauty of your Christmas tree.

First, your Christmas tree will last longer if you cut it down yourself when possible. If you live in a rural or semi rural area, then there may be many Christmas tree farms close by that offer this option. If you live in an urban area, a drive to a Christmas tree farm might be a fun way to spark your Christmas enthusiasm.

Choosing a pre-cut Christmas tree from a lot is by far much easier than cutting one yourself, although you can never be quite sure how long ago the tree was cut. If you have no other choice than to get an already cut tree, ask around to find the freshest ones. It is entirely possible for a fresh Christmas tree to stay beautiful for four or five weeks.

When choosing your Christmas tree from a lot, gauge how well the trees are cared for. A sign of well cared for trees are those that are displayed in water, protected from direct sun and harsh wind. If a tree is fresh, gently running your hand through the branches will cause few needles to drop. If you have chosen your Christmas tree from a lot, ask the attendant to saw off a small slice of the trunk and get the tree in a stand full of water ASAP. If you are not setting your tree up right away, place it in a bucket of water until you are ready. About three or four hours after the tree is cut, sap will begin to form over the trunk making it impossible to draw water. You must have a freshly cut trunk or your Christmas tree will die quickly.

Once you have your Christmas tree in a quality Christmas tree stand, it is important to check that it has enough water on a daily basis. A Christmas tree can consume one gallon (3.79 liters) of water each day and if your tree runs out, it will sap over and then die quickly. Adding aspirin tablets or other specially formulated Christmas tree preservatives may help to prolong the life of your tree but the importance of water cannot be emphasized enough. If it does happen that your tree runs out of water, or just to be thorough, you can try drilling shallow holes at the base of the trunk. The outermost layers of the trunk are where the tree consumes the majority of its water.

Finally, to keep your Christmas tree going strong, avoid placing it near a heat source. Heat will dry up the tree and cause it to die, not to mention causing a fire hazard. Likewise, in cold climates avoid placing your tree near drafts that will dry it out.