With the holiday season coming, here are some tips for choosing a real Christmas tree, you can consider things like:
Freshness
A healthy tree will be a healthy green color, with needles that hold fast and are flexible when you run your hand along them.
Size
Measure your space to ensure the tree will fit, and consider the tree’s proportion and stability from every angle.
Location
Think about where you’ll put the tree and how it will look in that space. For example, trees in large windows will look different than trees in corners.
Water capacity
The tree stand should have a minimum of one quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter.
Tree type
Know the different types of trees available:
- Balsam Fir: Known for its fragrant scent and soft, dark green needles, a traditional favorite.
- Fraser Fir: Offers strong branches for heavy ornaments and good needle retention.
- Douglas Fir: Features a dense, full appearance with blue-green needles.
- Blue Spruce: A more rigid tree with sharp needles, often with a silver-blue hue.
- White Pine: Softer needles and a bushier appearance, though less ideal for heavy ornaments.
Time of year
The best time to buy a real Christmas tree is generally between Thanksgiving Day and December 25, with the prime time being the first to second week in December.
Safety
Check for insects and pests, and if you plan to hang heavy ornaments, lightly pull on the branches to test their strength.
After purchase
Put the tree in water within one hour of cutting the trunk.