(by Scott Anderson, Brown Co. Extension Agent)

You picked out and bought your prized Christmas tree. Now, how do you keep it alive and fragrant throughout the season?

Care for the trees

Prepare the base. Real trees should have their base opened before placing it in water. Trees harvested from a farm will have this done when cut. However, fresh trees purchased at a lot or pre-cut trees on a farm should all have 1 inch of the stump removed. This allows the tree to take up water, she adds. The base should not be cut on an angle, but straight.

Provide ample water. Should trees be placed in a stand with water within three hours of cutting. The bowl should hold at least 1 gallon of water or more. Never let the water go below the base of the tree or the stump, she adds, because then it will no longer be able to take up water because sap builds up on the stump when it does not have access to moisture.

Check water daily. Make time to check the water levels at least once a day.

Avoid heat. Keep the tree away from a heat source. Do not place a tree near a furnace duct, fireplace or in direct sunlight by a window, as this will cause the tree to prematurely to dry out.

Small lights.  Using miniature lights on a tree. It reduces the amount of heat on a real tree and helps it maintain its freshness.

Maintain healthy wreaths

Here are a few suggestions:

Best buy. When buying a fresh-made wreath, feel its tips. Are they pliable or flexible? If not, it may be too dry. A Christmas tree farm is a great source of fresh wreaths.

Avoid sunlight. To prevent a fresh wreath from drying out, do not hang it in direct sunlight. A wreath is made of clippings and can only moisturize itself by absorption. Heat and sunlight prevent absorption, so avoid placing them in these locations.

Location matters. While many people want to hang a fresh wreath between a storm door and another door, do not. Heat builds up between the doors and will cause the wreath to dry out over time. Wreaths last longer in a shaded area.