| Love And Care of Your Fresh Cut Trees To keep your tree healthy and vibrant through the holiday season, our nursery experts suggest the following steps: |
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| Once your tree has a fresh cut, it needs to re-hydrate itself. It is this phase that is most important in maintaining a fresh and beautiful tree. As soon as you get your tree to its destination, place the tree in at least 5 gallons of water. | ||
| Keep water filled at all times. It may take up to a week for a tree to replenish itself (give or take a day or two). Keep tree in a cool, shady area away from the sun during this time. | ||
| You will know the tree has replenished itself when its intake of water slows down dramatically. At this time it’s okay to put it in a tree stand filled with water. | ||
| Keep the tree stand filled with fresh water. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO. | ||
| You can protect your tree further by spraying it with WILTPRUF (BEFORE THE ADDITION OF ELECTRICAL LIGHTS) which is a preservative that seals in moisture and adding a little 7-Up to the tree water, an old family preservation tip. | ||
| After the holidays, consider recycling your tree. Keep it outside near a window and decorate it with snacks for the birds such as pinecones rolled in peanut butter and birdseed, cranberry and popcorn garland or pieces of fruit tied on jute. By spring, it will be dried and ready to be recycled with other yard debris by your community recycling program. | ||
Where else would you find dozens of choices of the freshest live holiday wreaths, garlands, and swags than at Gale’s Westlake Garden Center? Gale’s Westlake provides you with only the freshest varieties in Fraser fir, cedar, pine, boxwood and more! Take your pick! Then, with the help of one of our creative designers, add a bow, a birds or some berries and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind festive accent, all in one stop! And, since you never know who might stop by to admire it, don’t forget the mistletoe!
There’s nothing like a cozy fire in the fireplace, chiminea, or fire pit on a brisk day. Add a cup of wassail or spiced tea and put your feet up! From firewood to decorative matches, fireside blankets and scented candles, at Gale’s Westlake we have everything you need to complete the scene – including the wassail!
Start by recycling Sunday’s paper (just the newsprint, not the glossy parts). This part is fun for the kids who want to help but should keep a safe distance. Have them crumble the paper into balls the size of grapefruits or twist them into batons. Place them on the hearth. Then lay several small pieces of
FATWOOD in a crisscross pattern. Fatwood is a highly flammable resin-laden stick from coniferous trees.
Using a long fireplace match, light the paper. Within a minute the kindling should burn steadily. Lay a couple thin logs above or beside the flames but not directly on them. As the fire begins to blaze, add a few logs at a time leaving at least an inch of space between them. As the warm air rises up the chimney and into the room, cool air is sucked up into these spaces, fanning the flames like a natural bellows.