As decorations continue to be put up, County Fire reminds you to water your Christmas tree. When a Christmas tree is cut, more than half its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your tree. Here are a few safety tips and facts on how you can keep your tree alive longer.
Watering is critical. A freshly-cut tree can consume a gallon of water in 24 hours.
Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of tree. Too little water causes resin to form over the cut end of the trunk. Once that happens, the tree stops absorbing water and dries out quickly.
Indoors, keep the tree away from heating ducts or other heat sources. Keeping the tree away from heating sources will keep the tree from drying.
Continue to monitor your tree for dryness. Run your fingers across the needles to determine if they are dry and brittle. If the needles break easily or fall in your hand, the tree is dry.
Keeping you tree watered will keep your tree from drying. A dry tree can easily catch fire. U.S. Fire departments responded to an estimated average of 200 home structure fires per year that began with Christmas trees.
A REMINDER TO WATER YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE
