Happy Holidays from Goffle Brook Farms

“May all the beauty of this holiday season be yours to enjoy”
from the staff of goffle brook farms

Caring for a live Christmas tree doesn’t have to be a stressful event. No one wants to spoil the holiday season, but Christmas trees in the home can present a fire safety issue. A primary concern with a Christmas tree is fire danger, often brought on by the combination of electrical malfunctions and, in the case of a real tree, a drying tree.

With proper care, you can enjoy a festive-looking tree throughout the Christmas season. When picking the location for the tree in the home, try to choose a place that isn’t directly exposed to warm air from heaters or vents, or selectively close nearby dampers to avoid large temperature swings in that room. A cooler location is better than a warm one, and one with plenty of natural light is preferred.

1 – To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree.

2 – Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. Do not remove the outer layers of wood from the trunk, they are the most efficient in taking up water.

3 – Make a fresh cut on any previously cut tree to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don’t cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.

4 – Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does NOT improve water uptake. However, a hole is necessary if you have one of our stand-straight tree stands. We will drill holes for that purpose.

5 – Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Don’t bruise the cut surface or get it dirty. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location like a garage. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water until you are ready to bring the tree inside.

6 – The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect the ability of water intake.

7  – Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. The base of the tree needs to be submerged in water.

8 – Keep trees away from major sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.

9 – Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.

10 – Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.

11 – Do not overload electrical circuits.

12 – Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to sleep.

13 – Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is very dry, remove it from the house and we encourage you to find a recycling program near you.