Tips to help your Christmas tree last longer

Want to help your Christmas tree stay fresh and last for the whole festive season?

Experts say the best thing you can do to guarantee freshness is to cut down your own tree from a local farm - but obviously that's not usually possible.

See also: Nine magic Christmas hacks

See also: How to make perfect roast potatoes

So assume the trees you see at your local store have been standing there for a while.

In which case it's a good idea to make a fresh cut - otherwise, the trunk's pores will seal up with sap, limiting water intake. Around an inch off the bottom is recommended.

If you don't want needles all over the floor, make sure the room temperature is just right. Keep Christmas trees away from fireplaces, heaters and even direct sunlight; all speed up the drying process.

Keep the stand filled with water - the trees can drink up to a gallon a day.

Some people swear by commercial tree preservatives, while others opt for adding aspirin to give it a longer life.