Then I have to stop. Pause. Think. Be rational. The tree is not a pet. It does not have feelings. I’m not doing myself any favors by hauling home the worst one on the lot.
Besides, live Christmas trees start at $50. The nicer ones are over $100 now. In many cases you pay by the foot so I might as well get the best tree for my dollars.
But what do you look for when selecting the perfect Christmas tree?
These are my top tips so that your perfect live Christmas tree doesn’t sap your holiday cheer or curdle your eggnog.
Measure that base, too. And don’t forget to bring your tape measure when tree shopping!
Retailers know this, so they will charge more for these “perfect” trees. Make sure you know what you want and the price you’re willing to pay.
Some tree farms charge $10 or more per foot. So it’s important to bring your measuring tape if you’re trying to stay within budget and under the ceiling.
And if it’s nearly dusk, it wouldn’t hurt to bring along your handy super bright LED flashlight to select the perfect live Christmas tree.
Many ornaments are big and heavy. So are your Christmas lights. You’ll want those branches to be able to carry the full weight of all your decor without drooping to the floor.
You don’t want to vacuum any more than necessary.
It will continue to use this sap until little remains. So if the tree is still giving sap the parts should be sticky with it. This indicates a healthier tree.
Think about what color tree you prefer and needle length when selecting the perfect live Christmas tree. Do you like long needles or short needles? Do you enjoy a fragrant tree?
If you can’t put your Christmas tree up immediately, you’ll need to put the tree in a bucket of warm water outside away from the wind and cold.
Shake the branches one more time before bringing the tree inside to get excess needless off. Be sure to use the extra branches to make a fresh wreath!
Keep the tree out of harsh sunlight and warm drafts from vents. Both will discolor your tree and shorten its lifespan.
You probably have heard all the wives’ tales of adding aspirin, soda water, bleach, salt, sugar, or Karo syrup to keep the tree fresher longer. But most experts insist plain H2O is best.
Some trees may require several quarts a day, so check the water levels in the stand every few hours.
One tree, fresh cut. We visited the farm just yesterday since the weather is beautiful for November and tagged our tree. We will go back to get it the second week of December. They will cut it, haul it, shake it, wrap it, and put it in our van. Our youngest daughter’s bd is 12/7 so I always insisted that no Christmas decorating started until after her birthday. Even though she has been out of the house since 2003, I still wait until the second week of December to get the tree. It stays fresh until the second week of January. I’m always sad to see people tear down their trees and decorations on Dec. 26. One trick our son-in-love showed us to make the tree last longer — just before putting it in the stand (and right after trimming the inch off the bottom — drill a hole up through the bottom of the tree and stuff some absorbent fabric strips (old flannel works great) into the hole, leaving a tail that will wick up the water into the tree.
love this site.
the smell of a fresh cut pine always takes me back to my childhood, ty for the article!
foods to enjoy
Love the smell of a fresh cut pine!
Thank you for having a great giveaway during the holidays <3
All great tips! Thank you for sharing these.
Very interesting things I never thought about
L
Beautiful pictures
Aww.. and The Animals on here Make me smile, The TREE is beautiful!
My tree is going to be artificial this year and it’s going to be a grinch theme!!
A real tree brings back some many memories of Christmas, my family always had a real tree and the smell of that tree brought the Christmas magic to the house. Thanks for sharing the tips
There’s nothing like a live tree at Christmas time. Love the smell that fills the living room! 🙂
When our family was young we enjoyed cutting our Christmas trees. When our oldest daughter was in high school I developed allergies and we switched to a large artificial tree. Over time, we got a smaller artificial tree, since the kids were grown and no grandchildren were on the horizon. And, we kept the smaller tree after our 7 Grandchildren arrived. However, our children were given most of the Hallmark, Enesco and other Ornaments we’d collected over the years for their own family trees. Your tree tips were spot on; and, brought back many wonderful memories for me. Thank you!
Great ideas and tips to follow. Thanks for the sharing.
great ideas, thanks much!!!
looks like the people that picked the Rockefeller tree should have watched. That tree is pitiful!
I prefer to admire the trees in our yard and not cut them down. Birds and critters need the habitat more than I need to decorate my house.
great tips if I ever choose to have a live tree
Great Christmas tree tips!
so pretty
These are great tips. You really need to keep an eye on the water so it doesn’t dry out.
Wonderful information. I miss living in Colorado where we would go the Pike Forest and cut down our Christmas tree. Thanks
Thanks for all of the tips. We go to pick our tree next week
Your tree is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing a picture. Can’t wait to put our tree up!
Thanks for sharing! It’s always difficult to find a tree that’s full so thanks again for the advice. 🙂
I follow these tips as fresh is always the most nostalgic in our home. However, despite the normal inspection, one tree in particular that will forever live in infamy was doomed. It was a live tree from a farm that we cut but there was no indication that it would soon lose all of its needles and I feel the culprit was the hidden spider infestation. Well, that hasn’t stopped us but still gives me the shivers.
Great tips!! And I LOVE the furbabies pics too!
we enjoyed a real tree for many years!
Great tips
Thank you for the info!
I always get a fresh tree from a mass retailer. I have always wanted to go to a tree farm and pick one out, cut it down myself and bring it home.
Wish I had your tomato tips this spring
Great tips for trees. My family, son mostly, insists we get a real tree every year. Wish my ceilings were taller and I could get a huge one.
Great tips, I’ll keep them in mind if I ever decide to bite the bullet and buy a real tree! For now, I’ll still with the one I got.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
nice
Since it has just been me I don’t put up a tree. I go to daughters to watch kids open present its fun to watch the little ones
I use a fake tree for now. where i currently live, there is not room to grow my own, and they are expensive to buy. no mess and easy set up and take down
I did not know that hot water tip! Great info. You are much more organized than we will ever be- but I can fantasize about it. haha Happy holidays.
We use to get a real tree, but the last couple of years we’ve had an artificial tree. I miss the smell of the real tree. Thanks for all the great tips on choosing a good tree.
Wonderful ideals and tips. Cute pet photos, both of mine refuse to wear anything for me.
Beautiful pictures!!!
I’d love to have a real tree but my cat thinks Christmas trees are his new toys!
All great tips – especially that measure to the ceiling!!
We put up an artificial tree right after Thanksgiving, then go get a real tree on Christmas Eve. Every item on the real tree has to be handmade: popcorn strings, cranberries, etc. After Christmas, we put the real tree outside for the birds (and squirrels!) to enjoy.
I am so glad I found this blog!
Growing up around farming and then marrying a farmer we have always had real trees (grown on the farm). But since then we have artificial trees because I don’t know how fresh they are.
Thanks for the tips
We cut our own tree last year and it was quite the experience. We forgot to measure the ceiling, but lucked out – the tree was just the right size. The scent of a fresh tree cannot compare to the fake ones.
Looking for a size and freshness
it is all about the tree. if you have a bad tree then no matter how well you decorate it will not look good
All of these are great tips to keep in mind when we go to the Christmas tree farm.
My cats use out tree as their own cat tree. Can’t ever have a real tree and even my fake tree is all discombobulated lol.
Thanks so much for the great tips. I’ll keep them in mind when I get my tree in a couple of weeks.
Gorgeous
I needed this to get me in the holiday mood!
This is good information to have. I haven’t put up a tree for awhile because of our pets. Thanks for sharing
We love picking out a tree every year and these are some great tips!
I have visions of Christmas Vacation running through my head now! I have to watch that again. We have never done the live, cut-your-tree yourself thing. Very good tips here for the newbs.
Great tips! Thanks 🙂
Thanks for the grrat tips! 🎄
My Dad owned a Christmas Tree Farm when I was growing up and then my husband and I raised Christmas Trees on our farm for several years also. I think they are all beautiful! Happy Holidays!
Good tips! Trees and santa clause has nothing to do with Christmas.
We always buy a living tree and replant it.
Great tips! Thanks so much!
Great imformation,thanks.
Thanks so much!
So pretty
We tag and cut a fresh tree each year. So many great tips. Thank you for sharing!
I am all about imperfect Christmas trees myself.. I always fix up nice and as neat as possible, but I honestly like the Charlie Brown trees that everyone ignores.
We are so excited to have a real tree this year so this was perfect
I’ve never done it but I like the idea of a living tree
I have a “Bonsai” tiny Christmas tree that has stayed the same size for the past 20 years.
fake, would you believe my tree from last year is still up
love the holidays these would be a great addition
I live among the trees and have always had live ones for Christmas.
really great tips, we have been doing fake for years now because real are just too expensive and its kind of sad
I will definitely keep these tips in mind when picking out our tree this year.
I am only putting up one small, artificial tree this year. As we won’t be doing much entertaining, I decided to cut back on the decorating and baking. Sad, but more time for virtual visits with family & friends.
Great tips, I love a fresh tree. They smell so good.
We always pick a tree with character. Most have had a 3 or 4 tops, crooked trunks, or anything unusual. Lots of fun to decorate!
We always have an artificial tree. Personally, and respectfully, we have considered it a waste to kill a tree for such a short use. But that is just our personal opinions.
Good tips but our tree is not real.
Awesome !!
Fake tree
Great tips. Getting a live tree this year for the first time ever,
Thank you for the help
An artificial tree for me
Great tips for tree selection. Thanks!
I would love to grow a garden that I could be proud of.
Great tips. Don’t forget to add sugar to the water to make it stay fresher longer
Good ideas – Maybe this year we will get a real tree rather than artificial.
beautiful tree
Growing up in Michigan I have done a lot of work on Christmas Tree farms it really does take a lot of thought and care picking the right tree and species for your home .
Thanks for all the great tips. I love live Christmas trees. Douglas Furs are my favorite.
very helpful tips
We only ever put up one tree and it was artificial. Now, we don’t even put up one. Over the years we went from a full size artificial tree to a small tabletop tree, and then to no tree. Eventually, I may start doing a small tree again. Interesting tips in the article about tree freshness.
great tree tips
Gosh, I love the picture of the big & decorated tree. The entire tree
was captured in the wonderful picture. Christmas reminds me of my
mom. She loved a big & fresh tree. Most of the ornaments she made.
She had a train on tracks & baby Jesus, 3 kings, Mary & Joseph set.
Appreciate the tips on looking & selecting a fresh tree.
We usually just put up one Christmas tree, and it’s a fresh cut live tree. Thanks for the additional tips. When my kids were younger I got them each a small fake tree to put up in their bedrooms (table top size) but over the years they got damaged or lost parts so we don’t have them any more.
Cats and tinsel. Fortunately it passed and the litter box was bright and shiny for a few days.
I would love a fresh tree. My tree looks like a Charlie Brown tree.
One little, tiny, obviously fake tree! A ‘CHARLIE BROWN’ want-a-be!
GOOD TO KNOW
Your tips are spot on. In our early marriage days we got a live tree and one season, we bought our tree too early and it dried out so much before Christmas, we couldn’t even turn on the lights for fear of starting a fire. The day after Christmas, we tossed the tree from our 3rd story balcony apartment and upon landing below, EVERY needle fell off! We bought an fake tree a few years ago and while it’s convenient, I do miss the scent of a real tree.
I have a live tree that has stayed tiny like a Bonsai tree, I bring it indoors for Christmas for the past 20 years.
Thank you for these tips!
We went to cut down a tree from a tree farm and my son cried because he didn’t want to hurt the tree. He also didn’t want animals to lose their homes. So we put up a fake tree, just 1.
1 real tree
My favorite was Frasier Fir. It had the least amount of needle drop.
I only like fresh cut tree. We usually get a cedar that has grown on our land. The only artificial tree we ever had was just after we were married in 1962, one of those aluminum trees with a colored light wheel directed at it. It looks like they are coming into fashion again! 🙂
They all look so beautiful, especially the first one.
I am soooo picky when it comes to my xmas tree. Has to be a Grand Fir just because of the citrus pine smell lol
Great Tips.
I haven’t had a live Christmas tree in years but I remember the fragrance. A live tree is so beautiful and brings the holidays to life right inside your home.
Thank you!
Thanks for all the great tips! We usually have put up live trees and hope to do again this year! And your post will help to make sure I don’t repeat some of the awful tree mistakes I’ve made over the years! Happy Holidays~
Beautiful tree!!
We use to have a real tree , then it got easier while working to just put up a fake tree. But now that we are retired we are going back to real this year and my granddaughter is going with us for the first time to the tree farm to help pick out the perfect tree.
So awesome! And Happy Holidays!
I’m torn between a fake & a real tree I don’t want to kill a tree for the use of just once ! ! But there’s nothing like a real tree !
Nice decorations!
We used to go to the mountains and cut our own frasier fir tree, I miss those days
These are some great tips! I will pass them on to my sister and her family as they always pick a fresh tree!
i love real chrismas trees there really nice to have.
Thank you for the tips! They are all so interesting!
I love fresh trees and we used to cut our own tree each year. But I lost my husband and I’m a little too broken to do it by myself, so I have a 9′ artificial tree. I just have the one, currently.
I grew up haGtving a fake tree. I’ve had some real ones in the past. I didn’t know so many of the tips, especially that the tree should be watered with hot water first. Thanks!
We used to put up a real tree and one year we had a live tree which we planted and it is now taller than our house. We now use a prelit faux tree but I do miss the smell of a real tree but not the pine needles.
I never heard about using hot water with the first watering. Thanks for the tips.
These are helpful tips that many people will find useful at this time of year.
love the smell of fresh trees
Artificial 9′ slim look real then sometimes 2 slim 7′ trees throughout my home.
These are some great tips. Thanks for sharing them!
thanks for these tips
Good tips. We prefer a fake tree.
That is a beautiful tree. I grew up with a real tree and we had one the first year were married. Now we have an artificial tree.
I love the tree its so pretty decorated and I know it must smell so good. Since my sons heart transplant no live plants in our home now, there not allowed. I will enjoy next year when i visit friend and family who have them because they look and smell so good.
We haven’t put up a tree 🌲 in years! We are empty nesters. Unless we had Christmas, we wouldn’t put up a tree. I was never for putting up a tree, because I didn’t know what a tree or a large man in a red suit, had anything to do with the birth of our Lord and Savior! They just took the attention away from Him! Everybody overruled me. so I always opted for a real tree. The smell of a freshly cut tree makes the house smell good. I knew about shaking the tree’s branches and looking for life in the branches. I never heard of adding bleach in the tree’s water. Sugar – yes. We always made sure that the tree was firmly anchored. Safety first! Over 50 years ago, we had the big glass bulbs. They used to get really hot. So we didn’t have the lights on for long at all. Even blinking lights. Our family liked throwing the tinsel on. I liked the garland. The tinsel got all over too. The cat liked the sparkle of it. We always unplugged our tree at night. Some families didn’t. It cost them dearly!
I’m so glad that people have gained a lot of knowledge about Christmas trees! I was always careful about the kids and the animals. We used surge protectors. An overload outlet can cause a fire too. Thank you for sharing. A couple of these points are good for fake trees also. Sharing and pinning 🎄🌲
Those are some excellent tips for sure. The price of live Christmas trees has gone up so much that I need tips to get a good one. And to keep it fresh as long as possible.
Great tips! I love the smell of a live tree but have not had one for many years. Next year if we are finally moved into the other house, we might have one since there is a pine that needs to be taken out. Now to remember your tips.
Thank you for these tips! I have always wanted to try getting a live tree for Christmas and these tips will definitely help.
Thank you for the information, especially measurement required for the tree to fit the room where placement is required.
This really has helped. Thanks so much for this..
Great tips! I learned a lot!
I appreciate the tips. I have gone to artificial trees but use forest boughs for other decor because I love the wonderful scent!
These are very good tips to know.
I see Christmas trees all throughout the year whenever we take drives. ;)))) Thankfully, we go to Marvin’s tool warehouse and pay @ $30 for a tree. 🐞
I use to purchase a live tree every year but it got to be too much of a hassle for me. I have a Balsam Hill tree now and it works.
I live near a national forest. One other thing to remember is to get a license before heading off to chop your chosen tree.
Thanks for the great tips.
The fresh fragrance of pine brings memories of Christmases past.
Always real!
We always had a fresh tree when I was young. It was usually a cedar tree, but sometimes we actually bought one. I still love how they smell, but have been using artificial trees for years now because I love having the tree up longer.