Your Guide to Real Christmas Trees

It’s officially December 3, which of course means that all the Holiday content fun starts now! That being said, I wanted to quickly get started on this post because now is the time that everyone is starting to decorate for the Holidays, which include Christmas trees!

For as long as I can remember, my family and I have only ever had real Christmas trees. Each year, we drive up north with the entire family to visit the Drysdale Tree Farm to ride the tractors, sip on hot chocolate and hunt for a fresh tree to cut and take home. This year however, I picked up my fresh tree from Sheridan Nurseries because we were supposed to go to Drysdale this past weekend, and the storm made that impossible.

So, since I’ve been dealing with real Christmas trees for a few decades, I wanted to use this as an opportunity to offer my readers a few tips. Firstly, when I ask others why they prefer a faux tree, it’s typically because of two things – mess and “extra work”. I use the quotations, because what people fail to realize is that a real tree, while it isn’t reusable, I find to be easier to put up. I know that with a faux tree, you have to assemble and THEN decorate, so the time it takes versus real is very similar.

Now, not to make this overwhelming, but the search for the perfect tree starts with what kind of tree you want and where in your house it is going. Create a space in your house first for the tree to go and decide how big (or small) you want it. Remember that the taller the tree, the wider the base will be, so keep that in mind. There are a number of tree types, and all just as beautiful as the next. You have your Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Douglass Fir, Noble Fir and Scotts Pine. While some just look alike, there are a number of charasteristic that differentiate each, so be sure to do your research. For me, I usually stick to a Balsam Fir or Fraser Fir as they have always been great, last long and give off the most beautiful pine scent. I did want a Scotts Pine this year like Charlie Brown, but I caved and went with my usual pick. Maybe next year!

So, picking a tree can be tricky since they all look so beautiful, but here are some things to look for:

1. Shake the tree if you can and see if needles fall. If they do, bye felicia!
2. Check inside the tree branches to see if there are any dead branches (typically a brownish-red colour)
3. Scope the tree for spider webs and insects (leave those outside!)
4. Keep note of the bark and twigs in the tree as well. You want healthy!
5. Dont get attached to the bottom branches as they are typically cut so they can properly fit inside a tree stand. These pieces however should be kept. You can make a table centerpiece or create some diy’s with remaining branches.

Once you have your tree, you will need a tree stand if you don’t already have one. There are a number of different styles for your tree, but I picked up one from Sheridan Nurseries as well since ours rusted last year. Check out Home Depot or Canadian Tire for tree stands as well and you can even get a numebr of options online. Just make sure the tree can hold the weight and height. Be sure to have someone help you put the tree in the stand so one can hold and the other can tighten the bolts. Once the tree is locked in place, add your water into the stand before cutting the string, and once you do, let the tree stand without decorations for a few hours. This allows the tree to drink up all the water and get ready to get dressed up! Once the tree is dressed, it can be hard to water it without laying directly on the ground, so I love this funnel that helps me water without getting down and dirty!

*Note: I use my Dyson vaccuum for the cleanup, so I suggest you invest in a great vacuum, so any small needle spills can be cleaned up easily!

Here are some crucial tips for how to make your tree last:

1. Give it a fresh cut. Whether you pick up your tree from a farm, supermarket or lot, make sure that you get them to give the tree a fresh cut before you throw it ontop of your car. If they don’t give you a fresh cut, be sure to give it a 1-inch cut when you bring it home and before you place it in the tree stand. (Make sure you have a proper saw first!)
2. Choose a spot away from heat sources. I know it can be hard given that its winter and the heat can be aggressive in the house, but your tree will hate it.
3. Water immediately and water it every morning as long as it needs filling. Your tree will be a thirsty one for the first couple days.
4. Don’t add anything to the water, but make it hot water – at least for the first week of fills. Some like “tree food” which you can get almost anywhere, but after a few years of use, I think just constant water is all that the tree needs!
5. Talk to your tree, sing it “White Christmas” from Bing Crosby because it will love it!
6. Go for lights that don’t get too hot and dehydrate the tree

Once you have checked all of these points off, you are all set and ready to enjoy your tree. After the holidays, remove your decorations and then recycle your tree through a local commuity program. My building actually collects all of the trees at once, so its no fuss, but do your best to recycle!

Happy Christmas Tree shopping!

Follow