Learn from our farmers.
Read through all these great tips about how to care of tree before and after you put it up in your home.
At the Jones Family Farms, we stand by the quality of all our trees. We guarantee your tree with our Jones exchange policy. Read through the following questions to see if they address your situation. If you still have questions, at the end there is information on how to contact us.
How do I care for my tree before I put it up in my home?
Keep the tree out of the sun and wind. A sheltered area like a garage is good, or shady side of the house blocked from the wind will work too. You can place the trunk in water or surround the trunk base with wood chips, and keep the wood chips watered.
When do I need to make a fresh cut?
You can you place your tree directly in a stand with water if it is less than 4 to 6 hours after the tree received a fresh cut at the farm. If it is longer than that, you will want to make a 1/2 inch fresh cut across the bottom of the trunk.
What do I need to do before I bring it inside?
If you are able to, give the tree a few solid up and down taps on the ground outside to dislodge any extra interior needles. Keep the tree wrapped up with string until you bring it. Measure your ceiling height as well as the height of the tree to see if you need to make any final adjustments.
What can I do to keep my tree fresh?
Keep it regularly watered. The tree will drink more in the first few days so water it daily when you first place it in the house. A tree will last longer if it is placed in a cool room out of direct sunlight. Never put the tree near sources of heat such a fireplaces and candles.
What can I add to the water to keep the tree fresh?
All of the research by tree scientists have shown that plain, room temperature water is the best; nothing needs to be added. What is most important is that the tree is regularly watered.
What if my tree has a cracked trunk?
It's fine! According to the scientists at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension: "Under certain climatic conditions, a small percentage of Fraser fir and other fir trees will develop cracks along their trunks. Most concerns about tree freshness related to trunk cracks can be put to rest. Given a fresh cut off the base of the trunk and placed in water, trees with cracks will take up water normally for the entire holiday season. Often, cracks will close up as trees take up water. Cracks are not directly related to foliage freshness or a tree's ability to take up water, or fire safety."
What if there are some brown needles on my floor?
That's natural! All needled evergreens shed their oldest needles every year, so do not be concerned when brown needles fall from the interior of the tree when you knock the base of the tree on the ground.
What if there any "hitchhikers" on my tree?
Your tree comes from the great outdoors, part of a healthy ecosystem in which the farmer takes care of the trees and the surrounding land. There is a very low occurrence, less than 0.1% chance, that an insect or spider may be on your tree. Tapping the tree on the ground outside before bringing it in can help. Also placing the tree in an intermediate space such as a garage for a day or two can help too. If the insects or spiders do come into the house with the tree, vacuum them up with the hose attachment or a handheld vacuum. We do not recommend the use of aerosol insecticides. We are sorry if you are the one-in-a-thousand who experience an issue; we appreciate you supporting a farm by getting a real tree grown with sustainable farming methods. The ecosystem and wildlife are grateful, too!
What can I do so my tree does not fall down once we put it in the stand?
We have cared for your tree for about a decade, and once you take it home, we pass the torch unto you. Being tree experts, we do have general advice - make sure your tree stand is large and sturdy; follow all the directions for the tree stand carefully; consider using wire to secure the tree to the walls. The stand's size and the strength of its hardware are often the main issue. We are sorry, but we are not responsible for any issues with a tree falling from its stand.
What should I do with the tree after the holiday?
Evergreen boughs make a great mulch for perennial flowering plants. The tree can also be placed on the ground near bird feeders to create a little shelter for ground-feeding birds. You will enjoy seeing more birds at your bird feeder! Also, many communities have a special pick up or designate a drop off site for Christmas trees to recycle the trees for compost or use for sand dune stabilization projects. Thanks for keep all parts of the your tree's life cycle sustainable!
Still have a question about your tree?
We are here for you! With our growing practices, almost every tree will make a wonderful Christmas tree. However, since they are living things, there are some natural conditions that can cause a tree to have an issue. If you have a quick question about your tree, you can contact the tree farmer at treequestion@jonesfamilyfarms.com (all other farm questions go to farmer@jonesfamilyfarms.com).
However, if you think you have a bigger issue with your tree and are considering an exchange, etc., please fill out the 2024 Tree Form and our tree farmers will get back to you as soon as they can, within 24 hours.
