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When you bring your tree home, ready to be decorated for the holidays, you expect that it will remain crisp and green as the day you purchased it. Yet remember that unless you have purchased a pre-dug, live tree, your tree is... dead. Just as cut flowers will retain their brightness and shape for only a certain amount of time, eventually all cut Christmas trees will lose their colour and begin to wilt. However, don't lose heart! Here are a few easy tips to keep your tree fresh and perky right through the season.

Before leaving the tree farm, grasp the tree firmly and pound its stump on the ground.  This dislodges any loose or dead needles which may be lingering within its branches. This is especially crucial for our Grand Firs as they are characteristically very bushy. 

Once the tree has arrived at your home, it is best to leave it covered--either in a carport, shed or garage--overnight so that the tree has a chance to climatize. 

Directly before bringing the tree inside, give your Christmas tree a fresh cut, removing an extra half-inch off the stump. This will allow the tree to take in fresh oxygen and water, as the sap can conglomerate across the bottom and cause an impenetrable seal.

Once inside, avoid placing your tree in front of a heat source, including area heaters, furnaces, or fireplaces.  Even if your tree is taking in lots of water, too much heat and not enough air circulation will result in brittle needles and will speed up the decaying process. 

Place your tree in a tree stand whose diametre is proportionate to that of your tree. Our Noble firs and Fraser firs tend to have thicker stumps. If the stump is not fitting properly, do not trim away the bark from the base of the stump. The tree drinks not only through the cut side of its stump, but also through the bark and you want to ensure that your tree is taking in the maximum amount of water possible to keep it supple and fresh.

Ensure that your tree has adequate water--do not be surprised if it drinks up to 2 litres of water  a day - especially at the beginning.

LED lights are more environmentally friendly and less hazardous than their predessors. Remember to unplug all lights each night and before leaving the house.  

We do not recommend placing lit candles in your Christmas tree, for obvious fire hazard reasons :).

Remember to bring your tree in for chipping after the holidays!

The staff at Alouette Christmas Tree Farm would love to help answer any questions you may have about the care of your tree!
 We hope your Christmas is oh so merry! 


Real Trees are More Environmentally Friendly Than Their Artificial Counterparts

-trees remove toxic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release healthy oxygen in its place
-for every tree that is cut down, another is planted in its place
-each acre of trees provide enough oxygen to sustain 18 people
-artificial trees are made of plastic which leeches toxins into the environment that are hazardous to our health; moreover, plastic wastes gallons of oil and water in its production
-buying local trees cuts lessens our carbon footprint by reducing the need to use large trucks to carry trees across long distances
-our farm provides a place for wildlife to live and thrive (Alouette Tree Farm plays host to myriad wildlife such as deer, bear, owls, beavers, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, birds, frogs, snakes and rabbits)
-trees are a renewable resource
-Christmas trees are hardy growers and will often thrive in areas no other crop could, sustaining the soil in the process
-live trees can be planted in your backyard after the holidays. Each year you can trim your outdoor tree for the neighbourhood to enjoy.

To further reduce your carbon footprint, take your tree to your local chipper who will create a reusable mulch from it.

For more information on enjoying a "greener" holiday, visit http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/46/oh-christmas-tree-oh-green-christmas-tree.html 

Tree Care Instructions and "Green" Living