“Fresh tree, fresh cut, fresh water” – MSU expert on how to get the most from your real Michigan Christmas tree

<p>Cregg says “things are going well with our growers. Demand has been up the last few years; we're seeing good industry growth these days for Michigan trees.” And he describes some of the latest research he and his colleagues are involved in related to real Michigan Christmas trees. He also talks about how climate change is impacting Michigan’s Christmas tree industry. And he describes the mission of the <a href="http://www.mcta.org">Michigan Christmas Tree Association</a>.</p><p>Cregg offers his tips on selecting, maintaining, and properly disposing of a real tree.</p><p>“When you go out to get a tree, it’s best to get the freshest tree you can. The best way to do that is to go out and cut your own. We have literally dozens and dozens of choose and cut Christmas tree farms around the state. I suspect pretty much anybody that's listening to this probably has a farm within 30 or 45 minutes of where they are.”</p><p>Cregg describes the “pull” and “tap” tests he suggests using when picking out your tree. And to properly maintain the tree throughout the holiday season Cregg says “fresh tree, fresh cut, fresh water. The big thing is to give the tree water and a lot of it. We hear different things about bleach, aspirin, sugar and soda pop. Just give it plain water. </p><p>“I don't think often people appreciate how much water a tree can take up, especially if it's a fresh tree. If you've gotten a choose and cut or a fresh tree from a lot, the tree doesn't know it's dead. It's going to keep taking up water and oftentimes, especially its first three or four days to a week when it's first in the house, you can almost hear that giant sucking sound as that tree is taking that water up. Check it daily. </p><p>“We usually estimate about a quart of water per inch of diameter. If you look at the cut end of your tree, it’s typically going to be about three or four inches across for a normal sized Christmas tree. Well, that means that tree can take up three quarts to a gallon of water a day and most of our stands maybe h