1. Add WD40 to your branches to stop them from hardening
WD-40 has many uses around the house — including keeping your Christmas tree green! The oil-based solution helps prevent sap from hardening on branches and leaves, so they don’t stick together when touched by hands (or paws).
2. Water your tree with lemonade to prevent discolouration
This is an oldie-but-goodie trick that still works today. Lemons contain citric acid and vitamin C, which help prevent discolouration in real Christmas trees. Pour half a cup of lemon juice and one cup of water into a watering can every time you water your tree (which should be twice per week at minimum).
3. Use coffee grounds to break down dead needles
The acidity in coffee grounds helps break down dead needles and promotes new growth. Grind up some used coffee grounds and rub them into the trunk and branches of your tree. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice or water to make it easier for the grounds to penetrate the bark.
4. Add tin foil under your lights to stop the needles from burning
LED lights are better than traditional incandescent lights for many reasons; not only are they safer as they don’t heat up as much, but they last longer and, therefore, don’t need to be replaced as often. They also use less power – making them more energy-efficient and costing you less money in the long run.
However, one downfall of using any light is that the heat will dry out the needles on your tree and cause them to drop faster than normal. To avoid this problem, simply wrap tin foil around the base of each light strand before plugging it in. This will act as an insulator and keep your lights from burning up the bark on your tree!
5. Use a pencil sharpener to remove any remaining sap
When the needles drop off, it’s not just the pine scent that goes with them – there’s also a lot of sticky sap left behind on the trunk and branches. This can attract bugs, so if you want your tree to look its best for as long as possible, getting rid of this sap is important. You can easily remove it with a pencil sharpener. Simply use the sharpened end of the pencil to scrape away any sticky residue on your tree’s branches.
6. Use Epsom salts to improve your tree’s roots
Epsom salts are great for adding nutrients back into your trees’ soil and will help prevent browning branches and needles, which in turn means it’ll last longer and look better. Just add two cups of the salt into your water reservoir and let it do its thing!