This news item expired on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
You've picked the perfect tree - now how do you keep it looking beautiful all through the .jpg)
Christmas season?
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Purchase a fresh tree with needles that do not fall off when shaken.
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Recut the base of the stem and stand it in water as soon as you get it home.
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Store the tree outdoors, standing in a bucket of water, until it is brought inside.
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Avoid exposing the tree to heat sources and warm drafts. Use an antitranspirant spray to help slow the drying out of needles.
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Be sure your tree stand is large enough to hold adequate water. Check the water level daily and keep the cut surface covered with water at all times. A cut Christmas tree will absorb between 2 pints and one gallon of water per day. Use plain water, no additives.
For more information, call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.