Picking out a real Christmas tree is a fun experience the whole family can enjoy. There is nothing quite like the heavenly scent a real tree gives off – it’s sure to add to your holiday spirit!
With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s time to think about what kind of tree you will choose to bring into your home and decorate with your collection of ornaments.
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How To Pick A Real Christmas Tree
When you’re in the lot or at the tree farm, look at what happens to the tree when you start to handle it.
Do the needles start falling off immediately?
Are a lot falling off?
What happens to the needles is a sure fire way to determine how healthy the tree is. Remember: a few needles falling off is OK, but lots coming off is a sign the tree has been cut for awhile.
Another tip to keep in mind, is making sure the branches are not too close together. If they are, it will make hanging your decorations and ornaments difficult.
Best Type Of Real Christmas Trees
Once you know you’re going to buy a real Christmas tree, it’s time to decide what is the best type for your family. There are several top choice trees to choose from, but you want to make sure you get the one that suits your decorating needs.
Do you have a lot of ornaments? You need a tree that can handle the weight. Looking for a tree with a great scent? Different trees have different scents, which one will be right for you?
Read below for a description about some of the most popular real Christmas trees. You are sure to see what would be the best type of real Christmas tree for your family.
Different Types Of Real Christmas Trees
The Fir Tree Family
In the Fir family, there’s the White Fir. Known to keep it’s needles longer, the White Fir is a good
Decorated Real Fir Christmas Tree
choice if you want to buy your Christmas Tree before Thanksgiving. This type of tree also has a magnificent smell that will fill your home.
Another lovely scented tree is the Balsam Fir and it’s one that many people recognize due to the strong, fresh scent. The Balsam Fir is also tall and narrow, making it a great option if you have a smaller space and don’t want a tree that is too wide. The Balsm Fir will also keep it’s needles for a long time after it’s been cut down. This makes it a good option if you are looking to get your Christmas tree early.
The Fraser Fir is a good option if you have a lot of Christmas tree ornaments and decorations. The branches are nicely spaced out making it easy to decorate and allowing you to showcase your ornament collection. Other than the branches being spaced out nicely, the Fraser Fir is quite similar to the Balsam Fir.
The Grand Fir is a nice choice, but make sure you only choose this tree if you have very light or not many Christmas ornaments. The Grand Fir is not as sturdy as others in the Fir tree family.
The Noble Fir is quite sturdy making it an excellent choice if you have many heavy decoration and ornaments.
The Spruce Tree Family
Blue Colorado Spruce
The Colorado Blue Spruce is considered a good choice for heavy or light ornaments. The tree also has a blue tone to it, making it a bit more unique from other trees. Overall, the Colorado Blue Spruce holds onto it’s needles well after being cut down.
The Norway Spruce looks beautiful but is known to easily drop it’s needles. Choose this for your Christmas tree if you are buying it close to the actual holiday.
The Pine Tree Family
The Eastern White Pine has easily bendable branches and with proper care, has a long life. So it’s a good choice if you are looking to choose your tree early or keep it late after Christmas.
The Scotch Pine has very sharp needles, but doesn’t shed easily, so if you don’t want to vacuum up needles, this one is a good pick!
When To Get A Real Christmas Tree
Most people usually head out to find a tree right around the time Thanksgiving rolls around, but you don’t have to wait that long.
You can get a tree before Thanksgiving and still keep it fresh and looking healthy and green through Christmas. You don’t really want to put off buying a Christmas tree because all of the best ones go pretty fast.
You can buy your tree from a lot and have a wide selection to choose from or you can shop at a Christmas tree farm.
You want the needles to be pliant and have a nice, fresh scent to them. If you choose to go pick up a tree at a Christmas tree farm, you can pick out your tree and even cut it down yourself.
Often, the prices of a tree at a Christmas tree farm is less expensive than buying one from the lot – plus you can turn the event into a family outing.
Where To Buy Real Christmas Trees
Going to a reputable Christmas tree farm is a good idea. Often, the trees you find in parking lots have been cut a couple to a few weeks before you’re purchasing the tree. This means you run a higher risk of the tree not looking as good for as long as you want it to.
Small Real Christmas Trees
A potted real Christmas tree
If you have a smaller space, but would still like to enjoy a real Christmas Tree, most tree farms will have a selection of smaller trees.
There is the option of getting your Christmas tree in a pot. This means it will come with it’s roots attached and is likely in the pot that it was grown in.
Typically smaller, this option is great if you are mindful of the environment – you can plant the tree on your property after Christmas!
Look After Your Real Christmas Tree
Picking out a real Christmas tree is only the first step. You want your Christmas tree to look full and healthy right through the holiday season.
A lot of families do not take down their tree until after the New Year, so maintenance is very important.
Here are some tips for keeping your real Christmas tree looking healthy:
- Cut about an inch off the bottom of the tree trunk.
- Make sure the tree never runs out of water, always maintain a good level of water around the base.
- Do not place the tree near a source of heat. ie. a heat duct or a fireplace.
- Do not keep your home toasty warm. You are trying to not dry out the tree!
Follow these tips and you should stop your tree from drying out and losing it’s needles prematurely.
Picking out a real Christmas tree is a lot of fun. It can even become a yearly family tradition.
How does your family go about picking out a real Christmas tree? Has it become a tradition?
Share your experience in the comments below!
Originally posted 2016-11-09 07:27:13.