Christmas tree tips

[Cheyenne]

Just bought my Christmas tree this morning- $16 for an 8 foot scotch pine. Not had, huh? A little shorter than I'd like, but size isn't everything.

Tree buying tips I've learned over the years, sometimes the hard way:

1) Scotch pine has sturdy branches for heavy glass ornaments.

2) The taller the tree, the harder it is to decorate. Every foot over about 8 feet adds exponentially to the decorating time required.

3) Check what the tree looks like naturally balanced when you're at the lot. Sure, you can MAKE it stand up straight in that tree stand, but the tree always wins in the end. If it wants to lean, it will lean. (I learned this one the hard way. Don't ask.)

4) A heavy duty tree stand is worth it's weight in gold. See item number 3 above.

5) The shape of the tree branches isn't as important as I used to think. All trees are beautiful once you decorate them with lights, ornaments, and tinsel. Sometimes those "bare spots" are just perfect for hanging larger ornaments. Perfectly shaped trees are harder to decorate!

6) A bare side to the tree is fine. Just face it to the patio doors or wall. Decorate only the part you can see and forget about the back side.

7) Make sure you cut off a bit of the bottom of the tree and stick it in water when you get home. A thirsty tree is a green tree. A dry tree is like putting kindling in your living room.

 

[registered "^^"]

Just bought my Christmas tree this morning- $16 for an 8 foot scotch pine. Not had, huh? A little shorter than I'd like, but size isn't everything.

Tree buying tips I've learned over the years, sometimes the hard way:

1) Scotch pine has sturdy branches for heavy glass ornaments.

2) The taller the tree, the harder it is to decorate. Every foot over about 8 feet adds exponentially to the decorating time required.

3) Check what the tree looks like naturally balanced when you're at the lot. Sure, you can MAKE it stand up straight in that tree stand, but the tree always wins in the end. If it wants to lean, it will lean. (I learned this one the hard way. Don't ask.)

4) A heavy duty tree stand is worth it's weight in gold. See item number 3 above.

5) The shape of the tree branches isn't as important as I used to think. All trees are beautiful once you decorate them with lights, ornaments, and tinsel. Sometimes those "bare spots" are just perfect for hanging larger ornaments. Perfectly shaped trees are harder to decorate!

6) A bare side to the tree is fine. Just face it to the patio doors or wall. Decorate only the part you can see and forget about the back side.

7) Make sure you cut off a bit of the bottom of the tree and stick it in water when you get home. A thirsty tree is a green tree. A dry tree is like putting kindling in your living room.

The volunteer firefighters of america salute you.

 

[Cheyenne]

Re: Re: Christmas tree tips

The volunteer firefighters of america salute you.

My best friend is a fireman.

 

[estevie]

oops, you forgot one!

8) Buy artificial tree, leave decorated, wrap in loose plastic, store in garage until next holiday season.



hehee!




p.s I don't do this but some years I wish I did!

 

[batter]

Cheyenne

an 8 foot tree is SHORTER than you would like?????

um how tall do you usually get your trees and how do you get it home to decorate?

 

[LadyDarkFire]

Batter, all you have to do is tie it to the roof of your car, lug it in, and set it up. (We usually get about a 13 foot tree) Here's another hint, but more for decorating. Wrap christmas lights (the larger kind with the clear bulbs) around the trunk of your tree for the look of a glow from the tree itself. It also helps to back light glass ornaments.

Another Safety tip: Remember to unplug the lights from a tree when you are refilling the stand with water. This claims lives every year, even if it doesn't seem like a big deal.

 

[Rubyfruit]

We got a 10 foot noble fir this year. I always get nobles - they are my favorite. Except last year when we were in CT. They'd never even heard of a noble. Odd.

This tree is massive - the biggest I've ever gotten. The tree farm built a special stand for it, with support posts.

It'll probably take me 4 hours just to do the lights.

Here's a good tree tip for those with small children and/or pets and expensive ornaments (I collect Radko). I wire each ornament to the tree with floral wire. It takes time yes, but at least they are secure.

Cheyenne, I completely agree about the tree being beautiful once it's decorated. Every year I agonize about which tree to pick. My husband doesn't even like to go with me because I have to look at every tree on the lot at least 4 times before choosing the "best" one.

This year I realized that no matter what tree I pick, it's always the most beautiful tree I've ever seen once it's decorated.

Ruby

 

[Mellon Collie]

There are different types?!?!



And I have a tip my grandmother told me; put aspirin in the water. It's supposed to keep it fuller longer.

 

[LadyDarkFire]

Mellon, there are different sorts of Pine used for Christmas Trees. There is Douglas (which is the most common out here), Noble, Scotch, and a few others.

Tip: Guide wires on Trees if you have pets or children, wrap a length of wire around the tree trunk at several spots along the tree and secure to a wall.

 

[Gilly Bean]

For the first time since I was pregnant with Chris, I get to have a tree again!

Chris was a HELLION, and our old place was small, so we did a small table top 1foot tall tree and put lights and mini ornaments on it.

This year, since we are moving, I just cheated, and picked up a 4 ft tall artificial to place on a table, and picked up cheap bulbs, and lights, and garland, so we don't have to take time digging out all our christmas stuff, and it will get put away easier. Next year, I fully intend to have the biggest tree that will fit in our house, real, with lots of lights. At least 100 lights per foot. Place the tree in front of (kinda to the side) the fire place. Candles all along the mantle... I can't wait!

 

[ToddHwrd]

Re: Re: Re: Christmas tree tips

My best friend is a fireman.

Ok this isn't funny how come you all didn't tell me I was a fireman............................

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I love real trees--but with kids and us away traveling every year it's not safe. Bring on the fake one. What the hell, we just think of it as a REALLY big ornament. It looks great, especially with the train running around underneath it and all.

 

[Skitten]

Hey it is still me Wizard......I can't seem to log Sktten out so I'll just have to deal with posting under her name.......

Anyhow.......While putting up your tree you have to have the vcr tape of Chevy Chase Christman Vaction to watch when your done.

Another sign Christmas is here is when you hear Chech and Chong Chrastmas song on the radio. I love that song......










And the reason I am on her puter is cause I'm fixing mine.

 

[Tabby432]

The asprin really works. It's like the little packets of whatever, you get with fresh cut flowers from the florist.

Don't forget to actually put the disposable bag around the tree before you put it in the stand and decorate. I have about 5 packed away.

 

[Jaded1]

Dam it I knew it...........................

I just knew I was doing something wrong. When I decorate the tree I would have Bill Murray Scrooged on. Dam it. I knew it. I knew something wasn't right. Dam it...... Jesus, I hate this. I'm always doing it wrong. Why didn't any one tell me.......... I didn't know. I was given the wrong information. Now, I feel really bad.

Jaded1,CT

 

[batter]

the aspirin thing, i used to use and i also used to use about 2 cups of sugar in the water for the tree as well. it was supposed to be so it would seal the sap inside the tree and make it last longer as well.

i loved having real trees and the smell of them. after i was remarried, i have had to get used to artificial.

the tallest tree i could ever get was a regular 6-8 foot tree that had to be trimmed to fit. i would have loved to be able to get taller ones.

 

[Starfish]

*sigh* I wish I could have a live tree. I love the smell. Can you buy fake pine smell in a can?

Those are great and true tips Cheyenne.

The asprin bit is really good if you use a lot.

 

[Weird Harold]

Tip: Guide wires on Trees if you have pets or children, wrap a length of wire around the tree trunk at several spots along the tree and secure to a wall.

When my brothers were very young, my father would hang the tree from the ceiling rather than using a stand. He used two eyebolts firmly set into the ceiling joists and wire strong enough to support both the tree and a medium sized child.

(He learned to do this from my propensity for climbing things when I was very young.)

 

[Batgirl]

oops, you forgot one!

8) Buy artificial tree, leave decorated, wrap in loose plastic, store in garage until next holiday season.



hehee!




p.s I don't do this but some years I wish I did!

I do it makes things so much simpler

 

[Cheyenne]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Christmas tree tips

Ok this isn't funny how come you all didn't tell me I was a fireman............................

You mean you're not?

I probably heard the aspirin idea somewhere along the line, but I thought it was bleach that was supposed to go in the water. Keeps mold down, too.

Those disposable bags generally don't work for me, way too small for the width of the tree. Not to mention the height. This year the tree is only about 8 feet tall and narrower than some I've had in the past. I have a cathedral ceiling in my living room though, so short trees LOOK short. I can't get any shorter than about the 8 foot mark without it looking tiny.

I can't remember which country it was that would hang the Christmas tree upside down from the ceiling, but I know I read that somewhere. I also have a lot of glass ornaments (I love Radko, too!) so I usually tie the top to the rod for the vertical blinds behind the tree. Makes me feel a bit safer that I won't find the tree tipped over with lots of broken ornaments some night when I get home. Lucky that my cats aren't climbers.

Good additional tips- except the artificial tree. I don't think I could ever see myself with a fake tree. I love that scent of pine in my house! And yes, you can buy that scent in a can. It just isn't the same though.