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Tips are being offered by Master Gardeners at the ISU Extension Service for picking out and preserving fresh Christmas trees. They say dried out trees will have brittle needles that will fall off easily where the needles on a fresh tree will be flexible.  If you don’t plan to set up a tree right away, it’s important to store it in a cool sheltered location like an unheated garage.

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The Master Gardeners say it’s also important to cut off about an inch at the bottom of the trunk and keep it in a filled bucket of water.  A properly maintained fresh cut Christmas tree should be able to remain in a home for three to four weeks.  For more tips, look at this link.