Picking a tree is easy, and the only tools needed are a tape measure, twine, gloves, saw, leaf blower and maybe a Santa hat.
The quest for a Christmas tree can be a bonding experience, an afternoon of outdoor family fun where you make precious holiday memories for rosy-cheeked children. Done wrong, you end up with a car full of pine needles and whining kids.
Mark Chisholm is a third-generation arborist with his family-owned company. He also works as an arboriculture consultant. He offers a few tips.
Location: Know where the tree is going - and not near a heat source nor in a high-traffic area. Get a tape measure and determine how much room is available - and take the tape measure with you to the lot.
It's not that big a deal if you're buying a small tree, Chisholm says. "But if you're looking at an eight-foot tree, you're paying for something that might not fit." By the time you put a stand under it and a star on top, it might be too big.
Consider the source: Find a lot that donates its proceeds to a local charity. Chisholm points out that charitable tree lots are local businesses, so you're giving back to the community as well.
Pick a winner: Full, thick trees look great on the lot. It's not till you try to decorate it that you realize there's no room for ornaments. So choose a tree that has gaps that you can fill in with decorations.
Freshness test: Look for natural green, not the green dye that often gets sprayed on before shipment. Run a limb or two through your hand to see if needles stay attached.
Final prep: Before taking it in the house, make a fresh cut at the base to facilitate the uptake of water. And, if you've got a leaf blower, use it to dislodge loose needles, insects or anything else that may be lurking. "It's a nice way to neaten it up before you bring it in," Chisholm says. "And you'll get rid of old needles that otherwise would end up on the floor."
