4 tips for a hearty, healthy Christmas tree

With Christmas Day just two weeks away, Gerard Demaiter of Benjamin Tree Farm in Waterloo has entered what he calls his busy season.

Hundreds of people will visit his farm, looking for the perfect conifer to decorate and set presents beneath.

But will it last until then, or will the evergreen they choose be a pile of brown needles by the 25th?

Demaiter says these tips and tricks will keep your tree vibrant and moist long after the special day.

1. Cut your own

If you cut your own tree, Demaiter says it should last five to six weeks, and a freshly cut tree will last longer than a pre-cut tree. This is because pre-cut trees are shipped in from places like Quebec and Nova Scotia, and are therefore less fresh than any tree you cut yourself.

2. Choose fir over spruce

In general, Demaiter says fir trees outlast spruce trees, but that's not a hard-and-fast rule. For example, he says a freshly cut spruce tree from the farm will last well into January, just as long if not longer than a pre-cut fir.

3. Give your pre-cut a fresh-cut

If you are buying a pre-cut tree, Demaiter says you should cut one or two inches off the bottom of the trunk.

"Over time, if the tree isn't in water, the trunk will slowly start to dry out," he says. "So, we'll cut off an inch or two ... That way you're getting a nice, moist trunk that's able to absorb water."

Whatever you do, Demaiter says you should never shave the trunk of your tree, because the capillaries that take up the water are just beneath the bark.

4. Water, water, water

When you get your tree home, Demaiter says it's important to get it in its stand as soon as possible and then start to water it.

"You're going to want to top your stand up in the evening, top it up in the morning, and just keep an eye on it," he says. "The first week is really when the tree is going to take the most water. That's when you really need to watch it."

Demaiter says you can add a liquid plant fertilizer to the water, but that plain water is often enough.

For more tips and tricks, tune in to The Morning Edition Monday morning, when Demaiter will join host Craig Norris for a live interview.