When caring for a live Christmas tree, remember a Christmas tree is essentially a giant cut flower. Unless you cut your own Christmas tree, chances are the tree you buy has been sitting on the lot for several days, possibly weeks. The vascular system that draws water up into the Christmas tree will have clogged. Cutting off just a ¼ inch of the bottom of the trunk will remove the clogs and open up the vascular system again. You can cut more off, if you need to for height reasons.