How To Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh All Month Long

Nothing beats the fresh smell of pine. That's the reason we get a live tree for Christmas, right? But it can be difficult to keep it so fresh for the entire season. Here's the Wallengren Family Christmas Tree Recipe and I've been doing this for 20 years...works every time.

1. Go to your favorite lot and pick out your perfect tree. Make sure they give you a fresh cut of at least four inches. (Make sure you have four extra inches cut off) And bring it home!

2. Boil a gallon of water (or just a large kitchen pot). Add a quarter cup of Karo syrup and a half teaspoon of bleach to the boiling water.

3. CAREFULLY pour the mixture in to the tree stand with the tree in place.  (I actually have a tree funnel that helps me not burn myself!)

4. Let the tree stand overnight. (Don't decorate yet!)

5. Check level of water. If it doesn't look like the tree has absorbed any water, then the tree is dead and take it back to the lot to exchange for a new one. (Which I have done before!) If the tree takes water, then continue steps 2-4 until you are finished with Christmas!

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