How to Buy a Christmas Tree

• Also try: Mahalo's Guide to Christmas Trees
• Also try: How to Dispose of a Christmas Tree

• by Tracy C.

Introduction

• The Christmas tree is a perennial favorite—an estimated 35 million trees will be sold this year. But picking out the perfect tree can be stressful if you haven't done your research. Read on to learn the steps you'll need to find a winner this Christmas.

Step 1: Do Your Research

• Douglas Fir, White Pine, Blue Spruce...so many trees, so few Christmases.

1. First, measure the space where you intend to put your tree. This information will determine the size of tree you'll look for.
2. Don't forget to add in the height of your tree topper and your tree stand.
3. Learn what tree types are available in your area. The Virginia Pine is popular in the South, for example, while the Douglas Fir is a favorite in the Northeast.
4. If you know you want a particular type of tree, you can have it shipped to you even if it doesn't grow locally.
5. Consider how you will decorate the tree. If you have a host of heavy ornaments, a Scotch Pine or Blue Spruce are good choices because of their stiff branches.
6. If you care more about the fragrance of your tree, you might choose a Balsam Fir or a Douglas Fir.
7. Consider the descriptions of the most popular trees below, and go to the University of Illinois' page on Tree Types or the National Christmas Tree Association for more detailed descriptions and images.

Popular Tree Types

• Balsam Fir: short, flat, long-lasting needles that are rounded at the tip. Dark green in color and fragrant.
• Douglas Fir: needles have one of the best aromas among Christmas trees. Conical shape; can live for a thousand years.
• Fraser Fir: dark green, flattened needles; nice scent; pyramid-shaped strong branches which turn upward.
• Noble Fir: one inch long, bluish-green needles with a silvery appearance; has short, stiff branches; great for heavier ornaments; keeps well; is used to make wreaths, door swags and garland.
• Scotch Pine: the most common Christmas tree; stiff branches; stiff, dark green needles one inch long; holds needles for four weeks; needles will stay on even when dry; has open appearance and more room for ornaments; keeps aroma throughout the season.
• Virginia Pine: dark green needles; strong branches enabling it to hold heavy ornaments; strong aromatic pine scent; a popular southern Christmas tree.
• White Pine: soft, blue-green needles in bundles of five; retains needles throughout the holiday season; very full appearance; little or no fragrance; less allergic reactions as compared to more fragrant trees. Slender branches will support fewer and smaller decorations as compared to Scotch pine.
• Blue Spruce: dark green to powdery blue; very stiff needles; good form; will drop needles in a warm room; symmetrical; branches are stiff and will support many heavy decorations.
• White Spruce: green to bluish-green, short, stiff needles; crushed needles have an unpleasant odor; good needle retention.

Step 2: Locate Your Source

• Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Your perfect tree is a mere hop, skip, or keystroke away.

Tree Farms

1. Go to the National Christmas Tree Association and type in your zip code to find all the live tree suppliers near you.
2. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and warm clothing. Bring gloves so you can chop and load the tree into your car comfortably. You will be cutting down a tree in a forest, don't forget! (For that matter, a camera might be nice, too.)
3. Most farms provide saws, but you should double check beforehand.
4. Don't forget to bring your measuring tape along with what you've written down as the maximum height and width your space will allow.
5. Bring plenty of rope and a few bungee cords to secure your tree to the roof, unless you have a truck or SUV that can hold the tree.

Local Suppliers

1. Local tree vendors take the hard labor out of selecting a tree.
2. Your local Home Depot has a selection of live trees, along with stands and lights.
3. The Yellow pages can lead you to a nearby tree supplier.
4. Most local suppliers will still provide several types of trees to choose from and can advise you about what's best for you if you haven't yet decided.
5. Go early in the season to ensure you are getting a fresh tree. Trees have likely been cut quite a while ago.
6. Bring plenty of rope, and a few bungee cords to secure your tree to the roof, unless you have a truck or SUV that can hold the tree.
7. Some local suppliers will donate a portion of proceeds to a local cause. Take this fact into consideration when selecting a supplier.

Online

1. Ordering your tree online can cost more money because of shipping, but it will save you the hassle of finding the perfect tree alongside every other family in town.
2. Most trees ordered online are cut fresh right before shipping, so you may get a fresher tree than you would at a local supplier.
3. Family-owned tree suppliers like Tannenbaums guarantees its trees and will provide a full refund if you are dissatisfied. A freshness guarantee can be hard to come by at your local supplier.
4. When ordering, you choose the height of your tree and the species. Most sites will let you know which species are best for your area, taking into account shipping costs.
5. If you have your heart set on a Noble Fir growing on the West Coast, buy you live in Philadelphia, you simply pay more to ship.
6. Most trees are shipped within 3-5 days of ordering, depending on your shipping preference.
7. Online ordering is great for those who might not be well enough to duke it out at the tree lot and lash a tree to the car.
8. You could even order a tree for someone else—a grandparent or an ill friend—if you know the right size.

Step 3: Before You Head Out

1. Buy a tree stand. Knowing approximately how tall you want your tree to be will help determine the appropriate diameter. The taller the tree, the wider its base, and therefore the wider your tree stand will need to be.
2. Most tree stands are adjustable but be sure the maximum diameter is sufficient.
3. Don't forget those gloves.
4. Bring a tarp or old blanket to protect the roof of your car and/or wrap your tree in so it doesn't get too windblown on the way home.
5. Ideally, use or borrow a van or truck so your tree can ride inside.
6. Bring the measuring tape and your measurements.
7. Fill your tree stand with water so your tree can have a drink as soon as it gets home.
8. Call ahead to see if the farm or supplier you're headed to takes credit cards or personal checks.
9. Bonus Step: Bring an unbreakable ornament along to test branch strength. Full trees might look terrific, but ornaments often don't hang straight from them. Your test ornament will give you an idea of what your tree will look like once it's decorated.

Step 4: Select the Perfect Tree

• Now that you've identified what you're looking for and where, it's time to select the right tree.

1. Determine whether you will see all four sides of the tree when it's at home. If it will be in a corner, you can afford to choose a tree that isn't perfect all the way around.
2. The more "perfect" (that is, symmetrical) the tree, the more expensive it will be.
3. Measure the tree to decide if it is too tall or too wide for your space. Trees have a tendency to look smaller outdoors, but trust us, your living room is still the same size. Only choose a tree that will fit your space.
4. If you are dealing with a local supplier, ask him or her how long ago the trees were delivered. Have him or her point you towards the freshest trees.
5. A fresh tree's needles should be green, shiny, and healthy-looking with only a few browning needles. Needles should feel flexible and not fall off when you run your hand through the branches.
6. Try the drop test: lift your desired tree up several inches and drop it on its stump. If a ton of needles fall off, yours is not a fresh tree. (Do expect a few brown needles from the tree's interior to drop, however.)
7. Be sure you do a check for animals living inside your tree before marching off with it.
8. The staff on-site should also "shake" the tree for you in a special machine to rid it of any insects or debris.

A Note on Alternatives

• You might also consider an artificial tree or a living tree. A living tree is a tree you buy with its roots still attached, either in a pot or in a root ball, so you can re-plant your tree immediately after the holiday.

1. You can find or order an artificial tree at Target or Home Depot.
2. Some artificial trees look surprisingly real.
3. A living tree requires more dedication. You'll need to devote several days to the transition from outdoors to inside.
4. But a living tree can be replanted, which is wonderful for the environment.
5. You can also rent living trees.
6. See Mahalo's Eco-Christmas Trees page for more about living trees versus the other options.

Bringing it Home

• You've got precious cargo to transport!

1. Wrap your tree in a tarp or old blanket to protect it on the ride home.
2. Use plenty of rope and bungee cords to lash the tree to your roof or roofrack. Staff at the tree farm or your local tree provider should be able to help you do this.
3. The ride home from the tree farm is no Indy 500. Drive slowly, check that the tree is secure, and take turns carefully.
4. If you are not going to put up your tree immediately, keep it in a garage or area out of the wind and cold.
5. Make a fresh cut of a 1/2 inch to 1 inch at the base of your tree to thwart sap from clogging its ability to breathe, and put your tree in a bucket of lukewarm water. Do not cut at an angle or in a V-shape.

Step 5: Set Up Your Tree

• Careful set-up will ensure a long-lasting tree.

1. Remove any netting around your tree before bringing it indoors.
2. Do one final check for any critters or insect sacs (gross, we know) living inside your tree.
3. Make sure your tree will not be near any heat sources (fireplaces, radiators, air ducts, televisions, etc.).
4. Prop open doors and clear the path to your tree's new home.
5. Place a blanket or newspaper down below your tree stand. This will protect your floor.
6. Once you bring your tree indoors, make another fresh cut (or your first cut if it hasn't been sitting in the garage for a day or so) of about an inch before setting it in its stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the tree's growth. Do not cut at an angle.
7. Be sure the stand is filled with enough water. A gallon is a general measure, but the rule is one quart of water for every inch of the tree's diameter. Thus, a tree whose base is three inches in diameter requires at least three quarts of water.
8. Water temperature once your tree is indoors does not matter.
9. Use two people to put the tree in its stand. One can hold the tree itself while the other secures it in the stand.
10. The person in charge of securing the tree should first step back to make sure his partner is holding the tree straight.
11. Many people like to use tree skirts to drape over the tree stand and make the base of the tree look nicer. These can also discourage pets from slurping up your tree's water.
12. Monitor your tree every day to make sure there is enough water in its stand.

Step 6: Keepin' It Real

• Now that you've successfully set up your tree, you want to keep it healthy so it will last through the holiday.

1. Keep your tree away from any heat sources.
2. Luckily, very few fires start with Christmas trees—Christmas trees are involved in less than one-tenth of one percent of residential fires.
3. Fires that do start are most likely to have started because a tree was placed too close to a heat source.
4. Keep your tree well watered: in its first week, your tree will consume as much as a quart of water per day.
5. Smaller lights generate less heat and will keep your tree from drying out prematurely.
6. Turn off lights on your tree before you go to bed or when you leave the house. Better yet, buy lights that can be put on a timer.
7. Regularly vacuum or dust up fallen needles.

Step 7: After the Holiday

• 93 percent of consumers recycle their Christmas trees in some type of community program.

1. Don't let your tree stay indoors for too long, as it will become overly dry and a potential fire hazard.
2. Find a nearby recycling center using Earth 911's finder or by calling 1-800-CLEANUP.
3. You could chip your tree into mulch or wood chips for your own yard.
4. Look into any local organizations that might want tree donations for building projects.
5. Check with your city recycling program to determine if there is a pickup service for trees to be recycled.

Resources for How to Buy a Christmas Tree

• National Christmas Tree Association
• University of Illinois: Tree Facts and More
• CNN.com: Christmas Tree 101
• CNN.com: Growers Tag Green Christmas Trees
• Real Simple: Choosing a Perfect Christmas Tree
• Washingtonian.com: Finding That Perfect Tree
• New York Times: "Mud, Sweat, Jeers. But a Free Tree!" (December 2, 2007)
• Martha Stewart.com: Christmas Tree Glossary
• Oprah.com: Make Your Tree Greener
• San Francisco Chronicle: Real vs. Fake: Which Tree is Greener? (November 28, 2007)
• FEMA: Christmas Tree Fire Hazards
• Earth 911: Treecycling
• Christmas Tree Farm Network: Find a Real Christmas Tree
• About.com: Tips for Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree  
• Living Christmas Tree: Living Christmas Tree Rental
• L.L. Bean: Maine Balsam Christmas Trees

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