Have Yourself a Merry (and Safe!) Little Christmas

If you've ever had a real tree in your home for the holidays, you know there's nothing quite like it. Sure, artificial Christmas trees are great and are no-brainers for convenience and safety, but a real tree brings to life age-old Yuletide traditions.

Each year, around 30 million homes opt for live trees, according to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA). But, as referenced, live trees do carry more of a safety issue than the artificial variety. Namely, a poorly maintained live tree quickly becomes a fire hazard within the home. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to aid your quest in making your live tree as safe as possible.

It begins with the selection process. Your goal is to purchase the freshest tree possible. Obviously, unless you cut it yourself or watch a harvester cut it, you won't know how fresh the tree is unless you ask. When purchasing a pre-cut tree from a vendor, ask the sales associate when the tree was cut and where it came from. If you live in New York, for example, and the tree came from Oregon - then you know it has been cut for at least a couple of days, most likely.

A cut tree quickly loses moisture. So examine the needles or leaves closely. Look for a tree with green needles and very few brown needles. Many trees are sprayed to retain their green color longer, so go one step further by feeling the needles themselves. They should be moist and pliable. If they break when you bend them with your fingers they are too dry.

If you must store your tree for several hours or a day before putting it in your home, do not store it in direct sunlight. A better option would be in a garage where it will be out of both light and the wind, both of which will dry it out more quickly.

Before you erect your Christmas tree, make a fresh cut on its trunk, about one-half inch above the vendor's cut. This will allow your tree to "drink" from its base more readily. Your water stand should hold one gallon of water and will need to be replenished frequently. Place your tree in its base immediately after your secondary cut, and make sure the base has hot water in it when you first erect your Christmas tree. The hot water will help prevent the freshly cut base from sealing itself off, thereby allowing it to absorb more water.

Where you place your tree within your home is paramount. It needs to be away from heat sources. Do not put your live Christmas tree near a fireplace, radiator, furnace, heating vent, etc.

As previously mentioned, you want a Christmas tree stand that will hold at least one gallon of water. A dry tree is an invitation to disaster, so check the water level daily and make sure to always keep it full. Do not make the mistake of waiting until it is empty or low to re-fill it.

Another common mistake homeowners make with live trees is buying and erecting them too early. Three to four weeks is about the limit for a live tree, even one that is extremely fresh at purchase and well watered and maintained inside the home. Keep a close eye on the amount of water the tree takes in each day. When your tree no longer consumes the water, it's time to take it down.

Lastly, when decorating the tree, use miniature light bulbs instead of large bulbs, because they'll put off less heat. And, never - NEVER - place Christmas candles or any other source with an open flame in, around or near your Christmas tree.