It seems we're in Christmas Crunch Week, but you wouldn't know it from our seemingly sleepy City. Here on the West Coast, it feels like the 4th of July and everyone's out of town. The weather in Los Angeles hit an astonishing 81-degrees. Freeway traffic has been light, and we were able to make it across town in 30 minutes, door-to-door-- from West Hollywood to Santa Monica (a traffic flow friends in Manhattan aren't enjoying at the moment because of the transit strike.)
One important thing to remember during this holiday season, is to take a few minutes to maintain the integrity of your Christmas Tree. Here are some important tips on keeping your tree clean and aromatic:
The Secret To A Fresh Tree, courtesy of Tree People:
At the end of the holiday season, some trees are fresh and fragrant when others are dry and crispy. Listed below are the top five techniques, including a great product we at OrganizingLA recently discovered:
First:
Begin with a Freshness Check. Gently grasp or pinch a branch between your thumb and forefinger and slide it toward you. If the tree is fresh, very few needles should come off in your hand.
Second:
Have an employee of the tree lot give you a Fresh Cut. This removes the seal of dried sap, which has formed over the cut stump. If the base of the tree is without water for three to six hours, a new seal will form, thus preventing the tree from absorbing water once the stand is refilled.
Third:
Fill the stand with Warm Water ASAP, which will dissolve any new sap formations. Then be sure to check the water level regularly. A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water in the first 24 hours and one quart a day thereafter.
Fourth:
Use a Christmas Tree Preservative, which may be purchased at most tree lots. recommend Vita Christmas Tree preservative, because it is biodegradable.
Fifth:
Placement of your tree should be a safe distance away from heat and draft sources such as; fireplaces, radiators, heater vents, or TV's.
Click here for more information on keeping your Christmas Tree fresh.
Note from John Trosko-- check out the Ever-green Water System, developed by Heather Shepardson. The product is disguised as a Christmas present, and fits neatly under the tree, providing a 2.7-gallon reservoir of water through a plastic tube. It's available locally in Southern California at Costco. It's all about saving time folks!
