A merry Christmas is easily spoiled when your cut tree catches fire. Our neighbours who lived across the street once had a dry spruce catch fire while they were out due to faulty Christmas lights.

How do you minimize the risk and maximize the enjoyment from your fresh-cut tree?

1. Buy fresh. Make sure that the tree that you are buying was cut recently. Cutting your own can be a solution.
2. Cut the butt end. Even if you are bringing home a tree from the cut-your-own lot, removing a few centimeters of wood from the butt end of the tree opens up the capillaries of the tree. It also allows the tree to pull water up to its needle more efficiently.
3. Use a tree stand with a large water capacity. Be sure to fill it daily (in the beginning) and check it regularly thereafter for water.
4. Spray with WiltPruf. This "anti desiccant" prevents your tree from drying out prematurely. It is available in a ready-to-use bottle or as a concentrate. Save any unused WiltPruf for next year, but do not let it freeze.
5. Don't leave the lights on while you are out.
6. Don't let your tree overstay its welcome. Get it out of the house soon after the festivities are finished.
7. I suggest that you stand your tree up in the yard where it is visible from the kitchen or living room window after you are through with it. Hang suet balls or small bird feeders in it and allow the song birds to use it for protection during the winter months.

Have fun and be safe.

www.markcullen.com/