How Do You Use Sugar Water For Christmas Trees?
Sugar water is said to help your Christmas tree live longer and stay greener. People who have tried it say it works, while tree experts, such as those at the University of Illinois Extension, say that it is best to use plain tap water, and lots of it. The only way for you to know if it is effective, and if it is a practice you wish to do at Christmas, is to try it. Cut 3 to 4 inches off the bottom of your tree with a saw if you purchased it from a tree lot. As the tree has been sitting at the lot, the original cut will have hardened over, preventing water from being absorbed up through the trunk. Heat 1 gallon of water in a large pot on the stove. Remove the water from the heat just before the boiling point and add 2 cups of light–not dark–corn syrup. The corn syrup is believed to act as food for the tree, much the way sap would if the tree had not been cut. Add 4 tsp. of bleach and 2 tsp. of lemon juice. The bleach and lemon juice inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria in the water
