It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Picking out a Christmas tree is such a special and fun way to kick off the holiday season. Emotions can be high when trying to pick the perfect tree, so today I’m sharing the top 5 most important factors to consider when picking out your family Christmas tree. (And along the way we will discuss some additional tips that will make the day a bit more seamless and easy for everyone)
Growing up, my family solely used artificial trees. When my husband and I got married and moved into our first home, we decided that we wanted to have a real tree in the living room. (You can check out my top artificial trees in this post, like this one from Amazon!)
Since I had never owned a real tree before, I learned a lot in our first visits to the Christmas tree farms. So whether you grew up with live trees or if you’re looking to get your first real Christmas tree this year, hopefully this list helps you as much as it’s helped me!
THE TOP 5 SECRETS TO SELECTING THE PERFECT FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE
1. PREP THE ROOM AND MEASURE YOUR SPACE BEFOREHAND
This may seem like a waste of time or something you can skip, but this one is a critical step I wouldn’t recommend skipping. When you go to a Christmas tree farm or lot, you are going to be outside 99% of the time. Which means if you haven’t pre-measured the height of the spot you plan to place your tree (including how many inches of clearance you need for a star or angel on top), it’s very likely you may select a Christmas tree that is too tall or too short.
You’d be surprised how much smaller the tree looks outside until you put it in situ.
Keep in mind that the height isn’t the only measurement you need. You absolutely should measure the diameter of what Christmas tree width is ideal for the room so you don’t accidentally pick something too wide or narrow. I like to take a photo of the space (after I’ve moved any furniture to make room for the tree) and then draw on the photo to get a feeling for the shape that would compliment the space most.
Before you leave:
- Select where your tree will go and move any furniture
- Measure the height and diameter that will be best for your space (To save time for next year, write down the ideal height/width for each location and keep it with your ornaments)
- Take out your tree stand and place it where you plan to set up your Christmas tree when you return
- Grab a tarp and place it in the trunk of the car (to protect your roof when they tie the tree down)
2. WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE LOT, FIND THE SECTION FOR THE HEIGHT YOU NEED AND THEN FOCUS SOLELY ON THE SHAPE OF EACH TREE
This pearl of advice is something I heard when house hunting. “Don’t go see a house over your budget — you may fall in love with it and that’s a problem you don’t want to have.”
Meaning: when you go to pick out your 7 foot Christmas tree, only look at the 6-7 foot trees. An 8 foot would be a hassle to try to make it fit in the space, so don’t bother with the heartbreak.
Don’t forget to factor in the height of your Christmas tree stand!
The shape of the tree is individual to you and your family. Some people like to pick a tree that looks “perfect” (or close to the look of an artificial tree), while others may prefer their Christmas tree to have that Charlie Brown vibe. It’s totally up to you!
Personally, our family likes to pick a relatively large cone shape. We like for the branches to be full and larger at the base and come to a gradual point at the top. I’m also a fan of the branches staying consistent at the top of the tree (rather than having a couple branches at the very top that are way longer). But that’s just me!
Another thing to keep in mind is that the branches will settle and be pulled down as you add ornaments.
3. ALWAYS ASK FOR A FRESH CUT AND TO TRIM THE BOTTOM BRANCHES
When you are looking at Christmas trees either at a farm or lot, make sure you ask for a fresh cut if the trees are on a spike or are leaning against something to display.
A fresh cut is where they will cut an inch or two off the base of the trunk so your tree is able to absorb fresh water and you have more control over its lifetime.
The idea is to almost hit a “reset” button so your tree will live as long as possible when you take it home. (Most trees can last about 5 weeks)
My husband and I always ask for them to cut off any branches on the bottom 6 inches of the tree. Why? Because when you bring the tree home, the tree branches settle and when you add ornaments, you don’t want the bottom branches to be touching the floor. (Leaving a 6 inch clearance also gives you a bit more room to get under there when you need to add water to the tree stand)
4. SHAKE IT OUT
Once you get home and you’re untying your tree from the roof of your car, I always recommend giving the tree a good shake before bringing it inside.
Firs, including Balsam, Fraser and Canaan will drop the least amount of needles.
No matter what type of tree you end up purchasing, the netting and drive home most likely pulled on the branches. Which means loose needles. So before you go inside, give it a good shake in the driveway so you avoid major cleanup in the house.
5. GIVE IT PLENTY OF WATER
As soon as you bring your tree home, place it in the stand and make sure the base of the tree is submerged in at least 2 inches of water.
For the first couple of days, it’s especially crucial to make sure the tree has enough water in the base. Typically trees will soak up a lot more water on the first couple of days to make up for the trauma of chopping it down and the transport. We typically pour about a quart of water daily into the tree stand each morning for the first week.
Related: Decorating the Perfect Christmas Tree: Planning + Best Buys
After you’ve gotten the tree home, it’s tempting to immediately begin decorating, however I’ve found that it’s best to wait for at least half of a day so the branches can naturally fall a bit.
And that’s it! Happy hunting!
xo,
Jenn
