1. Prepare before you buy

If you are heading out to the Christmas tree farm the weekend after Thanksgiving to select and cut a live tree, then the second week of November is a good time to do an inspection of your Christmas tree stand. You don’t want to wait until you have arrived home with a 7 foot white pine only to discover that your Christmas tree stand has a crack in the plastic liner. Water all over your carpet and hardware floors is not a good way to herald in the holiday season.

2. Keep it fresh

If you plan to purchase a pre-cut tree, remember that freshness is critical to preventing tree-related fires. Examine the tree closely for drying or dead needles. One easy way to do this is to hold the tree up a few inches off the ground and drop the butt of the truck against the ground. If a large number f needles fall off, then the tree is probably starting to dry out. Remember that the drying process of a tree is irreversible. No amount of watering when you get home will make a dry tree become hydrated and fresh again, and dry trees are simply a fire hazard.

3. Size matters

Be sure to measure the height of the room where you intend to set up the tree. If your living room has 7 foot ceilings, you do not want to buy a 7 foot tree. As a general rule of thumb, you should allow about 18 inches of space to account for the Christmas tree stand, any floor protecting tray or mat that you have underneath it, and the star or whatever other topper you prefer. This also allows a little extra space at the top, so your tree’s topper isn’t brushing the ceiling, which will help ensure that your tree doesn’t overpower the rest of the room.

4. Strap it down!

It’s important to cinch the tree tightly before you leave the lot or farm. Most farms or lots will do this for you before you leave, but it’s still a good idea to come prepared with some twine or rope, just in case. Remember that when you get the tree home you have to fit it through doorways, around corners, and possibly even up or down stairways. Scratched-up woodwork and sap-coated doorjambs probably aren’t something you want to have to clean up on the same day you’re trying to set up and decorate the Christmas tree.

5. A cut above the rest

The last thing you should do immediately before putting your tree into the stand is to make a fresh cut on the tree’s trunk, about 2 inches above where it’s already cut. Cuts heal over quickly, and a healed-over trunk won’t absorb water. Making a fresh cut ensures that the tree can drink enough water to keep it fresh and prevent drying out.

Remember that a little bit of planning ahead goes a long way toward ensuring a smooth and pleasant experience when it comes to putting up your holiday tree. This doesn’t mean that you have to spend hours in preparation, but a few simple steps, like inspecting your Christmas tree stand before you bring the tree home, are well worth the time. With that having been said, there’s no time like the present to get prepared, so you’ll be ready to go get that tree right after Thanksgiving!

About the author: Ellen Bell works for Home Products ‘N’ More, an online retailer of unique, hard-to-find products. Looking for a quality Christmas tree stand? Be sure to visit the Christmas Tree Shop at Home Products ‘N’ More to find free shipping on a wide selection of stands and accessories.

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