Selecting and decorating a live Christmas tree is wonderful holiday tradition. But do you know how to care for your Christmas tree once it in your house? Up to 300 Christmas trees per year in the United States catch fire. With these simple tips, you can have a happy and safe holiday!

General Tips

• The most important rule for real Christmas trees is to prevent them from drying out. Dry trees are much greater fire hazards than well-watered trees
• Don't buy a dry or dying Christmas tree. If the tree is brown or is dropping a lot of needles, it is probably already dry. Dry trees are dangerous trees!
• Place your tree at least 3 feet from fireplaces, furnaces, radiators and other sources of heat
• Never block exits with a Christmas tree.
• Make sure your tree stands upright securely. If it wobbles, affix the tree more firmly in the stand.
• Dispose of your tree promptly after Christmas. Depending on your local climate, a well-watered tree may survive 6 to 8 weeks, after which it will rapidly turn dry

Watering Your Tree

• Before placing your tree in the stand, cut 1/2 inch to an inch off the bottom of the tree. This will allow the tree to absorb water more readily.
• An average Christmas tree can require up to 1-1/2 gallons of water every day, depending on the size of the tree and your local climate. If the stand is empty, fill it back up!
• Make sure that your tree is "drinking" the water. If the water level does not go down over a day, check for problems.
• Don't let the tree run dry for any period. This could allow sap to harden over the cut on the trunk, restricting water flow.
• Additives like aspirin, sugar, ketchup, commerial preparations, etc, have no proven effect on the life of the tree. Plain tap water does the job quite well and is recommended by most tree growers.
• Make sure your tree stand holds enough water and doesn't leak.

Decorations

• Check your Christmas lights for signs of damage (such as frayed wires) before using them on your tree
• Never overload an outlet or an extension cord. This could cause an electrical shock or a fire.
• Be sure to turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the house and before going to bed.
• Try to place the tree in a position that will not require stretching of cords across rooms and walkways.
• Monitor small children when they are around the tree. Many decorations and ornaments are sharp or can be swallowed.
• If you are using a tree outdoors, make sure that the lights you use are rated for outdoor use.
• Using candles on a live tree is not recommended. It is a tradition in some households, though, so if you must use candles, make sure you extinguish the candles when the tree is not attended, and stick to a strict watering schedule.