Now that your Christmas tree is at your house, how do you keep it fresh until after Christmas Day? Here are some tips from Enquirer garden writer Tim Morehouse:

A live tree

        • Make certain the root ball is solid with no signs of crumbling.

        • As soon as you buy a tree, locate and dig a hole where you want to plant it. The ground might be frozen after New Year's Day.

        • Store the soil in the garage in a wheel barrow or other container.

        • Introduce the tree gradually to warm temperatures inside a house by storing it a garage or shed.

        • If there is plastic over the burlap, remove it and water the tree.

        • Allow excess water to run off the root ball, then rewrap it with plastic to protect your floors before moving the tree inside.

        • Don't leave the tree inside too long — two to three weeks is maximum to assure the tree remains dormant.

        • When it's time for the tree to go outside, reintroduce it to the cold with a layover in the garage.

        • Dig a hole that is wider and slightly deeper than the circumference of the root ball. Mix Canadian sphagnum peat moss with the soil in the bottom of the hole. Position the tree in the hole (a job for two).

        • Once the tree is in place, water thoroughly. Cut the twine that holds the burlap around the root ball but leave the burlap intact, it will rot with time. Pack peat moss and soil tightly around the root ball. Water thoroughly once again.

A cut tree

        • Until ready to decorate the tree, store it in a cool place away from sun, wind and heat.

        • Trim the trunk end on the diagonal 1 inch above the original cut. This opens the pores and helps the tree absorb water.

        • Plunge the stump into a bucket of fresh warm water. Keep the tree in water until you are ready to move it inside.

        • Before decorating the tree, mist the needles and branches with water.

        • Buy a 1-gallon water stand. Fill it with a mixture of 7-Up and water. Check water level the first 12 hours, then every 24 hours after that.

        • In the house, place the tree away from fireplaces, heaters, televisions and sunny windows.

        • Unplug tree lights when you leave home or go to bed.

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