A fresh-cut Christmas tree can stay green and fragrant for weeks if it gets enough water. Most dry, needle-dropping trees are the result of a stand that ran dry once or a trunk that sealed over before it went in water.

Choose a fresh tree

At the lot, run a branch gently through your hand. A few needles falling is normal, but a shower of needles means the tree is already dry. Bend a needle: fresh fir needles bend rather than snap. Tap the trunk on the ground and watch for falling green needles.

Make a fresh cut

A cut trunk seals with sap within hours, which stops it drinking. Just before you put the tree in the stand, cut a thin disc, about a quarter to half an inch, straight across the base. Many tree lots will do this for you; if so, get the tree home and into water quickly. Do not cut the trunk at an angle or drill holes in it, as this does not help it absorb water.

Use a stand that holds enough water

A common guideline is about one quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter. A tree with a 4 inch trunk needs a stand that holds at least a gallon. Small stands are the most common reason trees dry out, because a fresh tree can drink a surprising amount in the first days.

Look for a stand rated for your trunk diameter and tree height, with a wide base for stability. Our guide to tree stands and skirts covers what to look for.

Check the water every day

Top up the stand daily, and twice a day in the first week. Keep the water level above the base of the trunk at all times. If the stand ever runs dry, the trunk can seal again and the tree will drink much less afterward.

Plain tap water is all a tree needs. Additives such as sugar, aspirin or commercial preservatives are not necessary.

Keep it away from heat

Place the tree away from fireplaces, radiators, heating vents and space heaters, and out of strong direct sunlight. Heat dries the tree faster and a dry tree is a fire risk. Use cool-running LED lights and turn them off when you go to bed or leave the house.

Know when to take it down

When needles fall at a touch, branches feel brittle or the tree stops drinking water, it is time to remove it, even if Christmas has not passed. Many towns offer curbside pickup or drop-off points for recycling trees after the holidays.

Prefer less upkeep?

An artificial tree needs no watering and can be reused for years. Compare options in our artificial Christmas trees and pre-lit trees categories.