10 Tips for Picking the Perfect Christmas Tree

By Matthew Hague Updated: Mar. 20, 2019

If you want to rock around the Christmas tree, make sure you select the right one. Follow these 10 tips on how to pick the perfect tree and keep it looking great all holiday long.

1 / 10

Size It Up

Measure the height of the room in which the tree will be on display, and the width of the stand. Then bring the tape measure to the farm or garden centre.

2 / 10

Shake it First

Give the tree a shake and run your fingers along the needles. If it starts to shed excessively, just imagine the mess it will leave on your carpets.

3 / 10

Assess the Trunk

The best way to ensure a tree stands up straight is to buy one with-wait for it-a straight trunk. If there are any significant kinks in the stem, walk away.

4 / 10

Keep an Eye on the Cut

Make sure there’s a fresh, straight-across cut on the bottom of the trunk. This will help the tree sit properly in the stand and absorb lots of water.

5 / 10

Water Daily

Water the tree daily or live with the consequences: a brown fire hazard

6 / 10

Let It Decompress

Before hanging anything, let the branches decompress for up to 24 hours. This helps get rid of the scrunched, straight-from-the-store look if the tree was bundled.

7 / 10

Don’t Forget the Skirt

Lay a stylish tree skirt at the base to collect fallen needles.

8 / 10

Work From Top To Bottom

Test the lights to make sure they work, then string them evenly around the tree, working from top to bottom.

9 / 10

Place the Tree Topper Next

Place the tree topper first so you don’t knock off ornaments later when you reach for the peak.

10 / 10

Layer Your Decorations

Layer on the rest of the decorations. For a balanced look, place all the big ones first, then the medium ones, then the small ones.

Originally Published: December 03, 2012