How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree

  • December 9, 2008
  • 6,867 Views
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Make sure this year’s live holiday tree is not only pretty, but safe, too.

You Will Need

  • A fresh tree
  • A tree stand
  • Water
  • A ceiling hook
  • A piece of wire
  • Tree lights
  • Blue masking tape
  • LED tree lights
  • Heavy-gauge extension cord
How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Choose a fresh tree

Step 1: Choose a fresh tree

Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that don’t easily fall off when you shake the trunk or run your fingers over a branch. The drier the tree, the bigger the fire hazard.

Needles should bend but not break, and the trunk should feel sticky with sap.

How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Cut the bottom

Step 2: Cut the bottom

Ask the tree vendor to cut two or three inches off the bottom so your tree will better absorb water from its stand.

How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Choose a safe location

Step 3: Choose a safe location

Choose a spot for the tree at least three feet from a radiator, fireplace, heating vent, or other heat source, and don’t block any exits with it. Never light candles near the tree.

How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Get it into water

Step 4: Get it into water

Put the tree into a tree stand filled with fresh water as soon as you bring it home, and keep it watered. Don’t skimp on the tree stand: Use a sturdy one that will keep your tree straight.

How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Secure to ceiling

Step 5: Secure to ceiling

With a piece of wire, attach the top of the tree to a hook in the ceiling so it can’t tip over.

How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Use the right lights

Step 6: Use the right lights

Use tree lights made for indoor use. Check for damaged sockets, missing bulbs, and frayed wires before hanging them on the tree.

Consider upgrading to LED lights, available where other tree lights are sold. You’ll spend a bit more, but they’re safer because they don’t generate heat.

How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Use cord caution

Step 7: Use cord caution

Tape down any loose cords so people don’t trip over them. Use blue masking tape to prevent paint damage. Never run cords under rugs (it’s a fire hazard), and don’t attach more than three light strands to an extension cord.

Use heavy-gauge extension cords; they stay cool and don’t fray easily.

How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Protect kids and pets

Step 8: Protect kids and pets

If you have young children or pets, keep breakable ornaments out of their reach.

How To Safely Put Up a Real, Live Christmas Tree: Get rid of a dry tree

Step 9: Get rid of a dry tree

When the tree starts losing needles, take it to a recycling center. Dried-out trees account for hundreds of fires each year during the holidays.

Benjamin Harrison was the first president to display an official White House Christmas tree.

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Comments (3)

catdude

Near the end of the video, where we're told to keep breakable ornaments away from small children and pets, it would also be wise to mention that foil icicles should never be used in a house with cats, nor should tree preservation chemicals be added to the tree's water if cats or small dogs can get to the water reservoir.

over 3 years ago by catdude

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Christmas_Tree_Stand

Very well done! The tree stand, in the video, seams hard to adjust... You may want to consider a self-adjusting Christmas tree stand. Those Christmas tree stands are basically ";touchless"; Christmas tree stands and they set up in under 5 seconds!

about 1 year ago by Christmas_Tree_Stand

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fashionhuu

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2 months ago by fashionhuu

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Video is in 'Tis the Season: Christmas Trees (15 videos)