There’s nothing like the beauty and essence of a live Christmas tree in your Columbus home! If you’ve never had a real tree for the holidays, or you’ve been frustrated by trees that don’t last the season, these tips are for you!
Here’s some Christmas tree care advice from Popular Mechanics and the National Christmas Tree Association:
1. For the freshest tree, cut your own from a local farm, or to have one fresh-cut for you. Buying local helps support sustainable tree farming practices close to home! To find a tree farm in your area, check localharvest.org.
2. When buying a pre-cut tree from a sales lot, nursery or scout troop, ask how recently the trees were harvested, and where they came from. If the seller hesitates or doesn’t know, shop elsewhere.
3. Inspect trees before purchase. Handle the needles; they should be flexible, without showing dryness. Brittle needles are a bad sign.
4. Before transporting your tree home, wrap it carefully in a plastic tarp to protect it from wind damage.
5. If you purchase a pre-cut tree, be sure to make another cut across the bottom of the trunk, removing about an inch and a half off the base. This is necessary because once a tree is cut down, the sap will escape and start sealing over the base. In turn, this will hinder the tree’s ability to absorb water.
Note: A fresh, farm-cut tree has about 3 hours before sap seepage begins to run to the base. If you have a short trip home from the tree farm, you can omit trimming the base of the trunk.
6. Put your tree in water immediately upon getting it home and prepping the base. Never let the base of the tree dry out! A typical tree can absorb a quart of water for each inch of trunk diameter! Add water to your tree daily.
7. Keep your tree away from direct sunlight, heaters or fans, as these will speed up the drying process. Use a room humidifier to help keep needles fresher longer, and to reduce tree fire risk.
8. The downside of a real Christmas tree is that pine sap is basically fuel, and dry needles are tinder. For these reasons, make sure that your light strands are in good condition. LED lights are safest.
9. At the end of the season, seek recycling options for your tree. Used Christmas trees can be made into mulch! Your local tree farm might offer recycling options.
We hope these suggestions help you enjoy your tree! And if you’re looking for a new Columbus home this holiday season, let us help you!
As your Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest at all times.
Understanding this distinction could literally save you thousands of dollars not only on the purchase price and terms, but also on seller concessions and home inspection issues, whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homeowner!
Contact us with your home buying questions! Remember, we are with you every step of the way…all the way home!
Andrew Show
Broker, CEBA, CEBA-M, CNE, CSP, ABR-M, e-PRO, GREEN
Buyer’s Resource Realty Services
Serving Metro Columbus, Ohio with Exclusive Buyer’s Agents
7100 North High Street, Suite 204, Worthington, Ohio 43085
614-888-4110 | 888-888-4110 Toll Free | 614-839-4110 Fax
