How to Safely Transport Your Christmas Tree

You’ve picked out a gorgeous tree to decorate for Christmas… No do you know how you’ll get it home without damaging your car (or other drivers, for that matter)? Continue reading to learn how to safely transport your Christmas tree home this Holiday season.

Wrap It Up

It's common practice for tree sellers to wrap trees in netting. Don't skip that step if it's available, no matter how eager you are to get home and start stringing lights. If netting isn’t an option, bring along an old blanket or tarp to wrap the tree in.

Decide Where to Put It

If the tree will fit in the cargo area, and it's wrapped in netting, put a tarp or blanket under it to protect your car's interior from needles and sap. If you’re putting a netted tree on the roof of your car, put a tarp or sheet under it to prevent scratches and protect your paint from sap.

Position It

If you're putting the tree on top of your car, position it with the stump facing forward. This way the wind won't damage the branches.

Tie It Down

If you have a roof rack, use rope or bungee cords to secure the tree in several spots, from where the branches start to the tip of the tree. If you don’t have a roof rack, open all the car doors (not the windows) and tie the tree down by passing several lengths of rope through the inside of the car and over the top of the tree. If the tree is longer than your car, tie a flag to the end of it so other drivers will notice it.

Take It Slow

Drive carefully, and try to avoid the highway. When you get home, unload the tree right away to get it out of the sun, which can dry out the tree.

Don’t Be Sappy

After you take the tree off the car, you may see drops of tree sap left behind. It won’t damage the paint right away, but if you leave it for too long it could lead to discoloring or staining.

To get tree sap off a car:

• Put a few drops of bug and tar remover or rubbing alcohol on a clean washcloth.
• Put the cloth on top of the sap and let it sit for 30 seconds.
• Rub the area until the sap is gone. If it’s stubborn, add more remover and try again.

If there's sap is on your windows, use glass cleaner in place of the tar remover.

We hope this helped prepare you for the Holiday Season! Be safe out there and if you’re looking for a Christmas upgrade for your vehicle, please browse our inventory today!