How To Shop for the Right Christmas Tree

By Rebecca Bull Reed

No smell is better than fresh pine during the holiday season, so leave the artificial tree in the attic this year and shop for a fresh Christmas tree. Fresh Christmas trees evoke feelings of the holidays that artificial tree simply cannot. With the holiday season so centered on Christmas decorations, skipping out on important details in picking out a Christmas tree is a big mistake. From decorating the tree with beautiful lights and Christmas ornaments, to warming up the fireplace and letting the heat fill the house with a light note of fresh pine, your family deserves the joy of having a fresh Christmas tree year after year. Capture a picture-perfect Christmas every year, from the breathtaking buffet spread to the fresh Christmas tree adorned with tons of presents. You're just four steps away from decorating your living room space with our best Christmas tree picks.

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Choosing a Real Christmas Tree

Joseph De Sciose, Charles Walton IV

There's no substitution for a real Christmas tree. Artificial ones may be gaining in popularity, but how many family memories are really created by dragging a dusty fake tree down from the attic or out of the corner of the garage?

 

To make your real tree experience the best ever, I offer this advice. Through trial and much error, I've found that no matter what kind of tree you select or where you live, these indispensable rules apply to all.

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Know Your Maximum Size

Joseph De Sciose, Charles Walton IV

My husband, David, is a big-tree kind of man, and as a result, I had to become a garland-making kind of woman. Rather than spending all afternoon hacking away at limbs and trunks, we now do as Georgetown, Texas, interior designer Linda McCalla suggests: We plan before we buy.

 

To calculate your maximum tree size, measure the height of your ceiling and then subtract 1 foot. This will allow ample room for a topper, such as a star. Keep girth in mind, too: the smaller the room, the skinnier the tree should be--unless of course there's very little furniture. Then a full tree is actually a welcome addition.

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Check for Freshness on the Lot

Joseph De Sciose, Charles Walton IV

Nothing kills that Christmas mood quite like a tree with no needles. Run your fingers down a branch before you buy. All needles should stay intact, and your hand should smell like your evergreen of choice. Gentle shaking should also result in very little needle drop. If not, keep looking.

 

Even with diligent care, cut trees only last about 10 days. Your best bet is to cut your own from a farm or to purchase one from a store or lot that offers trees harvested within days of delivery. High prices don't always guarantee freshness, and rock-bottom tags often yield bad results too.

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Recut the Trunk on an Angle

Joseph De Sciose, Charles Walton IV

Once home, I'm ready to decorate--but not before recutting the trunk about 1 inch above the butt end to aid in water absorption. If you don't have a saw, most places will do this for you. Get your tree into a bucket of water within an hour of cutting, or the pores will seal and your effort will be in vain.

 

If the tree is fresh-cut from a farm, then go ahead and put it in the stand. Otherwise, soak it in a bucket of water outside overnight. I like to spray mine down with a hose to remove debris and help hydrate the needles.

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