Will this year's drought make our Christmas tree more flammable?

ASK THE HORT AGENT

Question Will this year’s drought make our Christmas tree more flammable?

Answer The short answer is no. Two things needed to happen in order for the trees to be ok. First, we needed some water. We got that in the beginning of October. The rain wasn’t a drought buster, but it hydrated the Christmas trees.

Second, we needed frosty mornings. Cold nighttime temperatures cause trees to become “cold hardened,” which is a general term used to describe their cold hardiness. Cold hardened trees retain their needles better after harvest. After the early October rain, we got the temperatures needed to cold harden our Christmas trees.

Now that we have determined our trees are no more flammable than usual, we need to concentrate on hydration. The key to a flame resistant tree is keeping it from drying out. Cut an inch or two off the bottom of the tree before placing it in the stand. It will suck up water like a thirsty dog for the first 24 hours (approximately 1 gallon). They normally take about a quart a day after the first day.

Place the tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, wood stoves, deep fried turkey cookers and heating vents. Cover any nearby vent with a piece of cardboard if possible. Heat will cause a tree to use more water and dry out faster. Deep fried turkey cookers may burn your house down even if you don’t have a Christmas tree.

If you listen to the worry warts, you may think live Christmas trees spontaneously combust. Although they may burn, live Christmas trees do NOT cause fires. Candles, overloaded extension cords, faulty bulbs and frayed electric lines cause fires. Kids pulling, cats climbing, dogs chewing, and men playing football indoors are the types of actions that knock over trees and start fires. Wrapping paper in the fireplace or wood stove is also great candidates for setting your house ablaze. For Christmas fire statistics, visit this website http://www.mcta.org/firesafety.htm

A properly hydrated tree is less likely to burn than the presents under a tree. Whether you buy a live or fake tree should be a discussion about convenience, cost, tradition, or even smell, but fire should really not be an issue. If you want more details about Christmas tree care, visit http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/xmas/xmas_consumer.html Call or email me at (910) 893-7533 or gpierce@harnett.org if you do not have internet access.

Nothing beats the smell of a live Christmas tree during the holidays. Of course, the smell of smoke is hard to get out of furniture. Be careful, enjoy the holidays and hopefully if a fireman visits your house he will be holding a drink and not a hose.

Gary L. Pierce

Horticulture Extension Agent

Harnett County