Don't you hate it when you bring home a Christmas tree, and by the time the holiday rolls around there are more needles on the floor than on the branches?
Here are a few steps you can take to protect your tree from the grinch:
Full sun + cut trees = a pinchy, green carpet on your floor. Select a store or lot that keeps its inventory in a shaded area.
Before purchasing a tree, hold it upright and bang it on the ground a few times. If needles fly off the branches, it's on its way out. Put the tree back and select another. It's a good idea to bring gloves along, even if you're not shopping on a particularly cold day. They'll protect your hands from scratches.
Look at the cut end of the trunk. Visible sap is a good sign the tree has been cut recently.
Are the needles dry and brittle? Soft needles = fresh tree.
Choose a tree that suits your style and your needs. My tree of choice is the Fraser Fir, which has short needles that seldom shed. Fraser's branches are very strong and will more easily support heavy ornaments. It's not a cheap tree, but you get what you pay for. (I'd rather pay a few extra bucks if it means I won't have to vacuum excessively. The holidays are busy enough!) For information on other popular Christmas tree types, visit the National Christmas Tree Association website.
When you bring your find home, set it away from direct heat. This includes radiators, forced-air heating vents, sunny windows and fireplaces, all of which will speed the ultimate decline of a cut tree.
Have you picked the perfect tree? Upload your pictures here.
