Real Christmas tree tips and tricks

How long do real Christmas trees last?

With proper care, most real Christmas trees should last five weeks or more.

That means, if you decorate for Christmas in late November, your tree should easily survive beyond the holiday festivities.

However, we suggest buying your Christmas tree during the first week of December to ensure you aren't left with a dried-up, brittle tree come December 25.

According to experts, Scotch Pines, Blue Spruces and White Spruces are among the most popular types of Christmas trees for the season. When it comes to their shape, size and longevity, Fraser and Balsam Firs are also favorite picks. And if you have smaller children or pets, tabletop Christmas trees are great options if you want to keep holiday decor out of reach.

Questions to keep in mind:

When are you planning to purchase your tree? "In order to keep your tree looking fresh and vibrant throughout the holiday season, I recommend purchasing your evergreen about four weeks before December 25," he says. "If you have time to properly care for it, you can purchase your tree as early as six weeks prior to the holiday."

How big is your living space? "If you live in a small home or apartment, and don’t have enough space for a large tree, tabletop Christmas trees such as the Farmstand Norfolk Pine or Fragrant Holiday Lavender Tree are great options," they say..

"They also come pre-lit and decorated, which helps to save on time."

Do you have time to care for your Christmas tree? "Cut Christmas trees are generally easy to care for, but remember, low maintenance does not mean no maintenance," he notes. "Cut trees still need to be tended to in order to keep their needles hydrated throughout the season."

Do you have any pets or small children at home? Palomares notes: "Aside from keeping fragile ornaments and lights out of reach of pets and small children, you also want to consider what species are safe for them."

Make sure you place your tree in a sturdy stand that holds at least one gallon of water. Then don't forget to regularly water your Christmas tree — too little can cause resin to form, which means the tree won't absorb water and it will dry out quickly.

Much more is at risk than just aesthetics — a dry Christmas tree can pose a real danger to your home. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that between 2015 and 2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 160 home fires started by Christmas trees each year. It can take less than 30 seconds for a dry tree to burn down most of your living room — but that's not the case with a watered Christmas tree.

"Your stand should have a water reservoir that can hold one quart of water for every inch of the trunk's diameter," advises Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping Institute's chief technologist & executive technical director. Just remember to check the water level daily and refill as needed — it should always cover the bottom two inches of the trunk.

Even though you've heard people talk about adding things like bleach, corn syrup, aspirin and sugar to the water, we believe tree preservatives and additives are probably unnecessary. Most experts agree that plenty of clean water is all you need to keep a tree fresh.

Take your tree down before it dries out.

If your home is prone to dryness, try using a top-rated humidifier to add moisture to the room. The Good Housekeeping Institute Tech Lab recommends the Levoit Ultrasonic Humidifier for large areas (like the living room!). It performed well in our tests and can add enough moisture to the air to keep your tree fresh longer.

If you wait too long to take down your Christmas tree, you'll just end up with more dead pine needles to deal with. The easiest way to clean up fallen needles is by using your vacuum's hose — skip the fancy attachments and just use the end of the hose to draw needles directly into the bag or canister.

When you're officially done with your tree, you have a couple options: You can start a new compost pile with it, recycle it or turn it into mulch yourself. You can also ask your town about disposal options, if you're looking for a more eco-friendly solution.