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» Homemade preservative Much has been made of special preservative concoctions to keep Christmas trees fresher, longer. They offer somewhat mixed results. Plain water is just fine.If you'd like to try a preservative, here's a good one you can make at home: Combine one 12-ounce can of a citric acid soft drink, such as 7UP or Sprite, 2 tablespoons of household bleach and 1 gallon of water. Keep this mix on-hand to fill your tree stand. Here's how to buy, keep a great tree

If you want a fresh, long-lasting Christmas tree, buy it early. Trees sitting out in full sun on tree lots, without water, tend to dry out rapidly. Even if you don't plan to decorate and display your tree right away, you can take it home and set it in a shaded location. Leaning the tree up in a corner of the garage or against the north side of the house is ideal for keeping it cool. Also, set the end of the trunk in a pail of water as soon as you get the tree home. Now for selecting the type of tree and looking for one that's fresh. The most popular fresh-cut Christmas trees sold in our area are the Douglas, Fraser and Noble fir and the Scotch pine, also called Scots pine. The firs have short, 1-inch long needles. Scotch pines have needles ranging from 1 to 3 inches. Douglas fir and Scotch pine do a good job of hanging onto their needles. But if you want trees that will stay freshest and hold their needles longest - a month or more - choose Noble or Fraser fir. They're a little pricey, but if you want a quality tree, they're well worth it. To determine the freshness of an individual tree, gently grasp a branch with your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Few, if any, needles should come off in your hand. Lift the tree a foot or so off the ground, then drop it on the butt end of the trunk. If the tree is fresh, only a small number of green needles should drop off. Some brown needles in the tree's interior and a few on the ground are normal. Those with lots of falling needles, however, are likely to turn into that tragic little stick-figure of a tree in the holiday classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Most tree lots will cut some off the base of your tree's trunk to open the pores and allow the tree to absorb water. Have at least 1 inch cut to ensure that all the dried resin, which clogs these pores, has been removed. At home, set your tree in a location away from direct heat and sunlight. That includes heating-duct outlets, fireplaces, kitchens and south- or west-facing windows. If your tree must be placed in a sunny window, keep the shades drawn during the day to block the sun. Drying heat also comes from the larger bulb-size Christmas tree light strings. Small twinkle lights give off very little heat and will not contribute to the drying of your tree. It's critical to always maintain water in the tree stand. Letting the stand dry out for even a few hours can cause the wood pores to dry and loose their ability to absorb water. ● John P. Begeman is the urban horticulture agent for the University of Arizona-Pima County Extension. If you have questions, call 626-5161 to reach a master gardener.