First Time Live Christmas Tree Advice Please?

I have always had a live tree, so hopefully I can help. First, cedar or don't loose needles as badly. Measure your space first so you don't get a tree that is too big. I usually buy the weekend after Thanksgiving. It will last fine if you make sure not to let it run out of water. Get one of those cheap vinyl/felt backed table cloths and put down underneath to protect your floor. The round plastic stands with a big base give you more room for water and are more stable. You can buy a bottle of liquid to add to the water to keep it fresh. DO NOT LET THE WATER GO BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK!! When you get it home trim the bottom a half inch or so to give you a fresh trunk and put immediately in water. If you aren't going to put it up immediately, then put in a bucket of water. The first few days it will really drink a lot, so water several times a day. Then you should be ok if you check it morning and night. Just look for a tree that is pretty on all sides and doesn't have any big gaps.

You should buy it no earlier than 2 weeks ahead of time. I always buy Douglas Fir trees and they work well. You can put it ontop of a blanket or something to protect your floors. The tree holders I buy are plastic with a hole AND have the metal that you adjust to the trunk size and they work better because they keep the tree steady. Just pour water water directly into the trunk holder thing. Pour water all the way to the brim of the tree holder. When it comes to christmas trees, you can never have too much water. Look for whatever type of tree you want. If you have low ceilings, then make sure you don't get a tree that is too tall. You should really just buy the type of tree thgat you find the most visually appealing. Keep in mind that while they are at the tree forest the branches will be raised because it is fresh. After a day or so of being cut down, the branches will settle and spread out. In most places they put netting around the tree when you purchase it and they help you get it onto your car. The best way to keep it on is probably heavy duty bungee cords.

Good luck with your tree! I've always liked fresh better because of the amazing pine smell it has.


P.S. It is better to get the tree as late as you possibly can so it will stay fresh longer, but it is not neccesary to wait until the last minute. When you go to buy the tree shake the branches to see if pine needles are falling off. If they are, then the tree is not as fresh as it should be. As the tree starts to die in your home the needles will fall off. It is very easy to clean up with a broom or vacuum.

1. This depends on when you plan on taking it down. If right after Christmas then I think you can get one now.
If it's a New Years tree, then wait till about 2 weeks before Christmas.
2. Douglas Firs are what I used to get when I bought real trees.
3. I would use two tree skirts, and a large garbage bag to put under the tree stand. That way if any water spilled it would be in the bag not on the floor One solid color on floor, and the more decorative one to cover the tree stand and the trunk. The bag in the middle.
4.I think the screw in are more durable and sturdy. No plastic tree--no plastic stand lol!!
5.Aspirin are not needed but sugar is. When I was little my dad said it kept the needles from falling out. Not sure if he was right, I always remember having to vaccuum up needles every year. Something about water retention of the tree.
You have to keep water in it every day. Do not let it get below the bottom of the trunk, it will dry out fast and be a fire hazzard. You can use most any pitcher to fill up the stand.
6. If you grab a branch close to the trunk and pull gently towards you on the part where the needles are, letting them glide through you fingers and you get a lot of needles falling off its not a good sign. The fewer the falling off needles the better. It's best not to buy the ones wraped up in that netting stuff, you can't get a good look at how they stand or how full the tree looks. Always check how many needles fall off when you bounce the tree up and down on the ground. Also a bad sign if there's a lot.
Most tree lots put the better quality trees on the edges of the lot, sorta like window dressing.

Other advice:

Ask the tree lot person to resaw the bottom of the stump off another 3-4 inches this insures the tree will absorb water after you get it home. If they don't offer this service a hand saw might be in your future.

Let your tree sit a day after you get it put up so the branches will have time to warm up and fall more naturally so you can decorate and not redecorate cause the tree settled.

When you go to put the tree on top of the vehicle, use an old blanket on the roof so the tree doesnt scratch the paint. Tree sap will eat the paint on any car, and is hard, very hard to remove.Make sure the trunk of the tree is at the rear of the car, and I think bungie cords are the best with roof rails. And there are no knots to untie later

Merry Christmas to you and your son.

Berta

The later you buy the tree, the longer it will last. Buying one from a tree farm that isn't cut down until you select it will give you the longest lasting result. You ALWAYS want a fairly good sized tree skirt (Circular piece of cloth) around the base of a real Christmas tree. This will both protect the floor, and help to contain the needles. I've always used the metal one that screws into the trunk, but whatever stand is easiest for you will be fine. The more water it will hold, the better. You want to ALWAYS have standing water in the tree stand. Check it a couple times a day, every day. This keeps it looking as good as possible for as long as possible, but more importantly - minimizes the fire hazard. A dry Christmas tree is about the best way to start a house fire I can think of without using gasoline and a match. I've heard some people insist on putting aspirin in the water, but I never have.

A good tree farm will provide a few different services. They should have people available to:
- cut the tree for you
- haul it back to the loading area
- Shake the tree (important, gets all the dead needles, birds nests, etc out of it before you bring them into your house); they should have very violent looking machines that do this.
- Bale the tree for you (put a plastic netting around the tree); this makes it MUCH easier to handle for loading onto your car and getting into the house. Don't cut the netting off until you have it up and in the tree stand.
- Load and tie down the tree for you; most places will have twine available. Make sure it's put on there tree trunk forward.

When you're looking at trees keep in mind that they'll look much bigger in your house than they do outside. The straighter the trunk the better, try to avoid trees with a split trunk if at all possible. You're not going to find a tree that is 100% full and even all the way around, don't try. You want one that looks good from 3 sides - put it against a wall. Be wary if the trunk appears to be green in places - some places actually paint the trees in the fall to make them look healthier.

Also, most tree farms hire high school and college kids for minimum wage. It's rather hard, cold, sometimes just downright miserable work. If the person helping you is cheerful and pleasant - they'll be very grateful for a tip. Doesn't have to be much, just a couple bucks. Hope this is helpful!

Since my Dad has a Christmas tree farm I think I can answer your questions.

When should you buy it to last longest?
if you buy it from a Christmass tree farm, meaning they cut it down, now this weekend will be okay, if you are buying one from off the street or store it does not matter since they all are cut about two weeks ago, the key is to get it, cut 2 inches off the bottom and get it in water and keep it watered.

*What type is the best for longevity?
normally all are the same

*How do you protect hardwood floors under it?
Tree skirt will do fine

*What is the best tree stand (plastic with the hole in the center or the metal ones that you screw in for the width of trunk?
Metal normally last longer, and stands that have legs are the best.
*How to water it and when? Do you use aspirin in water?
http://www.yorknewstimes.com/stories/120601/ag_1206010009.shtml
*What to look for when picking it out at Tree Forest? straightness of the tree, the trunk of the tree, you do not want one that is too thick, which happens because the trees get pruned down a lot.
Good luck
MO

I have never not had a real tree. I buy around the first week of December. Ceder don't loose needles as badly as other and have strong branches for ornaments. or hardwood you can simply place a nice red (for Christmas) tree blanket under it it. They are shaped like an O and gos around the tree holder. I get a plastic tree holder that has about one inch metal screws to keep the tree from tilting. I have never heard of using aspirin the water, and we simply pour water in with a pitcher, whenever the water is low.You just pour the water into the tree holder. We use a pick-up, so can't help you with the cord. Some tips-
Make sure you know how high the ceiling is to avoid under or over buying.
Have someone cut the trunk, this will help it take i water and breathe. Other than that you should be good to go. Hope I helped!

Well, I would like to say this right off the bat before I forget, haha. My best friend for 35 years and her husband own a farm and every year they go out and buy a tree from the nursery that has the roots still attached and after Christmas they plant it on their farm somewhere so now they have every Christmas tree they have ever had since they have been married planted on their land (just throwing in a little tradition) I don't know if you even have any land or not. The tree, I am especially partial to the Blue Spruce, that's my favorite but you do have to keep whatever kind of tree plenty of water and yes you can put an aspirin in it if it's going to be up a real long time but even now as close as it is I wouldn't worry about that, I never have and usually when they sell you a tree here anyway, they give you a package of something to put in the water but if you have pets, beware of the water, try to arrange the tree skirt up around the base of the tree and then put presents on top of the so our little furry friends aren't sick on Christmas morning! That's all I can give you I hope this helps you a little. Kim in KY

hey! well, first of all, I would like to say good luck!
having a real christmas tree seems (to me) so much better than a fake one.
You should buy one about a week or 2 away from christmas, that will ensure that it will still be alive for christmas time.
to protect the hardwood floor, use a blanket and put it under the tree stand. this will also keep the needles from getting all over.
the best tree stand (that I found, it has always worked for me) is metal one, because the tree always seems so much more secure
to water my tree, i just fill up the water in the tree stand (warm or room temperature) and put some sugar in it. all of my trees have stayed alive when i did this. just make sure that you fill it everytime it gets low so that the tree will always be drinking.
to pick out a tree, you have to think about how tall your celings are. after deciding what height, pick a tree that doesnt have hardley ANY dry or dead needles on it. that means that it will last much longer. also, to get your moneys worth, I have a trick that will get you a better deal on your tree. pick a tree with a really good, full side, but one that has a really bad other side. you can get this tree for cheeper, and to hide the bad side, just face it towards the wall! nobody will ever know. =)
bungee cords i found are the best. i would get some of the workers to get it ontop of the car for you, and tie it, just because you havent done this before. thats good that you have roof rails, im not sure there would be any other way you could strap it down. =D
GOOD LUCK!
and have a merry christmas!!

All types are great. When you took at a tree, don't get a huge one because you will regret how much room it takes. Look at 5' at most. Pulled on the needles and if they come right out do NOT buy it becuase it is dry. Trees were all cut in September and stores.

Get a good stand, not cheap, that has at least four legs than adjust as the tree is put into the holder. Those ones with the screws could fall over easily if you son pulls to hard. There is one that looks like a tube with a sealed bottom you can slip on the end of the tree, then put the tree into the holder, which has the adjusting legs. Worth the cost. Definitely do not use the wooden crossed stand some tree places give you; have them remove it.

Before you put in the tree, cut a knotch in the bottom or on two sides or cut off the end/saw to allow water to be absorbed. Make sure the holder has water daily, a must, because otherwise the knotch will close up. Plain water works the best though they make fancy additives to might help the tree stay "green." Remember you son will be attracked and might drink it so plain water is best.

To protect your car taking the tree home, put an old sheet or plastic tarp on the top of the car, then have the sellter put the tree on and tie it to the car. When you get home it is easier if you cannot independently lift it off to pull the tarp (after you cut the ties).

I strong recommend you put an old sheet down where the tree is going. Catches the dropoping needles and when you take the tree down and all the ornaments are off and removed the water (makes a mess otherwise) you can wrap the tree up and carry it outside without putting needles everywhere.

Remember the type of ornaments could be a hazard to your little one. Best to get plastic ones. DO NOT use tinsel because he will be attracted to it and eat it. All it takes is one small piece for a little kid or animal and you will be at emergency. And at this age with a fresh tree get the very small lights (not hot like large ones). NEVER leave the tree on when you are not in the room with your son and only when you are looking at the tree.

You cannot leave the tree up for a month; ten days is pushing it. If you buy the tree now/early, then put it in the garage in a large can of water (after you knotch it).

Remember simple is best to start and with age you can add to the tree. I would buy one ornament each year that is just his so when he leaves home he takes his memories with him. I did that for my nieces and now send one each year to my nephews.

Happy Holidays

Yeah! real Christmas trees are great I love the smell of them buy it at least a week before Christmas,to get the maximum life out of it there is no type that last the longest it depends on how u take care of it when u get it home.
Keep water in its base to keep it fresh keep it away from ur base heaters,fire place anything were there is a lot of heat which will dry up ur tree quicker than expect.
Get a tree cloth for ur tree u can pretty much buy them anywhere as for the best stands for ur tree they have so many
types u can buy when u go ask the sales rep for the best one for ur tree.
Yeah! I did that at a tree forest look at the width of the tree the fullness of it what I mean is that there are not a lot of space between the branches the color and health of the tree if it looks really strong and the trunk of the tree bet the best tree for ur money and u-n- ur son to enjoy that is what is important get what u want not what the sales person wants to see u ok that is what is important .
Most places like when I bought my tree a few years ago they put it like in a fish net and it was great it help it down but if u have roof nails ask them to tie ur tree down with rope around ur roof nails to get it in place but not to damage the tree either
and most of all may u-n- ur son have a very Merry Christmas and I hope a blessed 2008.
Be sure to remember one thing the larger ur tree the more water it will absorb so be sure to check it every few days n water it when u see a lot of needles on ur floor that means ur tree is drying up and could be a fire hazard as well so be sure ur electric tree lights r in good working order ok stay safe not sorry ok!

Well, we have always gotten them directly from the farm, uncut (we bring our own saw even)

We get a Frasier Fur, it's been described as the Cadillac of Christmas trees. Get it in mid to late december, and it'll last until mid January if you keep it watered. (most don't keep them that long though)

Protect your floors by putting a utility blanket of some sort under the stand.

Stand, get the metal ones with screws. You'll need another person to help you set it up, an tighten the screws while someone else is holding the tree straight- and make sure you tighten evenly.

Water it every day or so, don't add anything to the water, plain tap is fine.

As for what you're looking for, make sure you know what height your ceiling is. You usually wind up trimming some off the top, so take that into account. (presuming you're going to the farm, if you by in town you'll have that cut off for you in all likelihood) Basically you look for a full tree in a shape that you like, different people like different shape trees. If you're buying precut, make sure that the needles are not browning and that the tree is fresh.

Best way to tie the tree is with rope and bungie cords to the roof racks.make sure you go through a few branches, not just over the tree- it could slip out if you do that.

Have fun! and if you're having trouble, the people at the place you go to will be able to help you out as well.