Galveston County, TX

The tradition of Christmas trees, as we know them today, can be traced back to Germany. In those early days, people would light their trees with candles. This, obviously, was not a safe idea. Today, we have many decorations designed for safety. There can still be some risk when putting up your tree, so follow these safety tips to have a safe and festive tree.

• Choose shatterproof ornaments - plastic and shatterproof ornaments are a great idea if you have pets or kids.
• Use twist ties or string to secure décor - this is an easy and reusable solutions for ornaments, lights, garland and more.
• Anchor your tree to the wall or ceiling - an easy solution to tree tipping and shaking.
• Weigh down the tree base - sandbags, rocks, bricks or other heavy items can prevent tree tipping as well.
• Keep real trees watered - Christmas trees are resin filled and a perfect mix of fuel and air for fires, keep them well watered.
• Tape down extension cords - Prevent tripping hazards by taping down any cords that must be run along the floor.
• Make a tin foil tree skirt - As odd as it sounds, cats hate the look, feel, and sound of aluminum foil.

How much should you water your tree?

It is surprising exactly how much water a real tree actually needs. For each inch of diameter of the trunk you will need one quart of water a day. This means your typical 7 foot tree, with a 3 inch trunk would need up to 3 quarts of water per day.

-Change out the water every day.

-Do not let it dry out or let stand. Plain tap water is recommended.

-Avoid the old myths or sugar, aspirin, flower preservative, or bleach to help preserve the tree. Not only will these not help your tree, but could present hazards to your family and pets.