Do's and Don'ts Christmas Trees

Posted on 12/16/2025

For real Christmas trees, DO make a fresh cut on the trunk, place it in water immediately, check water daily (it drinks a lot!), keep it away from heat (fireplaces/vents), use LED lights, and turn lights off when leaving/sleeping; DON'T let the water level drop below the base, overload outlets, use lit candles, or forget to inspect light cords for wear. For decorating, DO fluff branches and use lights that fit the tree's size, but DON'T overload branches or leave cords tangled. 
 
Do's (Real Trees & Safety)
  • Fresh Cut: Saw 1/2 to 1 inch off the trunk base to help it absorb water.
  • Water Immediately: Get it in water within hours of cutting; a bucket of water works for temporary storage.
  • Water Daily: Check the stand daily; trees can drink a gallon or more a day, and the base must stay submerged.
  • Keep Away From Heat: Place at least 3 feet from heat sources like vents, fireplaces, and candles.
  • Use Safe Lights: Choose low-heat LEDs and inspect cords for damage before use.
  • Turn Off Lights: Always switch off lights when you leave the house or go to bed.
  • Choose Wisely: Fraser and Balsam firs are great, but avoid Scotch pine if needle drop is a concern. 
 
Don'ts (Real Trees & Safety)
  • Don't Let It Dry Out: A dry tree is a fire hazard; keep water topped up.
  • Don't Use Lit Candles: Never decorate with real candles.
  • Don't Overload Outlets: Avoid overloading circuits.
  • Don't Use Gimmicks: Skip things like aspirin, sugar, or soda in the water; plain water is best, or use a commercial preservative. 
 
Decorating Do's & Don'ts
  • DO fluff artificial trees or shape live ones after setting them up.
  • DO consider the size and scale of lights and ornaments.
  • DON'T overload branches with heavy ornaments.
  • DON'T leave tags on ornaments or extension cords visible. 

How long do real Christmas trees last?

With proper care, most real Christmas trees should last five weeks or more.

That means, if you decorate for Christmas in late November, your tree should easily survive beyond the holiday festivities. However, we suggest buying your Christmas tree during the first week of December to ensure you aren't left with a dried-up, brittle tree come December 25.

Take your tree down before it dries out.

If you wait too long to take down your Christmas tree, you'll just end up with more dead pine needles to deal with. The easiest way to clean up fallen needles is by using your vacuum's hose — skip the fancy attachments and just use the end of the hose to draw needles directly into the bag or canister.

When you're officially done with your tree, you have a couple options: You can start a new compost pile with it, recycle it or turn it into mulch yourself. You can also ask your town about disposal options, if you're looking for a more eco-friendly solution.

In LA City, you can recycle real Christmas trees via curbside pickup by LA Sanitation (LASAN) on your regular green bin day (just place it next to the bin after removing all decorations and cutting it up if large) or use drop-off locations; flocked or artificial trees go in the trash. Check the City of Los Angeles (.gov) LASAN website for specific dates and details as programs run through January, but removing trees promptly prevents fire hazards. 
 
LA City Christmas Tree Pick Up
 
Curbside Collection (LA Sanitation - LASAN)
  • Remove decorations: Take off all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and the stand.
  • Cut it up: Cut the tree into pieces small enough to fit inside your green waste bin.
  • Place it: Put the pieces in your green bin on your regular collection day.
  • Too big? If it won't fit, place the whole tree next to your green bin on collection day.
  • Flocked/Artificial: These cannot be recycled; place them in your black trash bin. 
 
Drop-off Locations
  • LASAN offers free drop-off sites for recycling during the holiday season, turning trees into compost and mulch. Check the City of Los Angeles (.gov) LASAN website for locations and dates. 

You can also Call 311 or use the My LA 311 Website at: https://lacity.gov/myla311

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