Real Christmas trees quickly lose quality if handled improperly after they are cut. People who grow, sell, handle, or use real Christmas trees should know something about tree keepability. This is true of the consumer who may use only one tree each year, as well as brokers or growers who handle thousands of trees.

Many publications have been written concerning postharvest physiology, handling, and keepability of Christmas trees. Despite this, there is often ignorance of the subject, resulting in wasted trees, reduced tree quality, erroneous information, or dissatisfied consumers.

An updated version of Agricultural Handbook 66 was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2016 which reviewed postharvest handling practices for more than 140 agricultural crops. One chapter summarizes postharvest research for Christmas trees, including keepability ratings for about 35 conifer species.

The Christmas tree chapter can be accessed on-line by going to the following link and then scrolling to page 650 (page 660 in the pdf):

https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/oc/np/CommercialStorage/CommercialStorage.pdf

The full reference is as follows: Hinesley, L. E. and G. A. Chastagner. 2016. Christmas tree keepability. p. 650-658. In: Gross, Kenneth C., Chien Yi Wang, and Mikal Saltveit (eds.). The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Crops. Agriculture Handbook 66, revised. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area.

Information on Tree Care

• Tree Care Tips
• When Was Your Tree Cut?: Freshness, Fire Safety, and Your Tree
• Review of Christmas Tree Preservatives — why plain water is best

Christmas Trees at Home

• Post-Harvest Pests on Christmas Trees
• Old Christmas Trees Can Benefit Wildlife — US Fish & Wildlife Service