Don't worry. It's not just you. Thousands of people feel the same way each year. They head out bound and determined to bring back the Christmas tree of their dreams, and return with a tree that won't fit through the door or even worse, one that looses its needles after just one day.
But this year, that won't be you. During my trip to Big Tree Plantation, a Christmas tree farm outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, I discovered the simple secrets to successful Christmas tree shopping that take all of the pain and frustration out of buying a real Christmas tree. Well, almost all of the pain. You should still bundle up, because it will be colder than you think.
Step 1. Find the Right Size Tree
You may think that not wearing gloves is the biggest mistake you could make when Christmas tree shopping, but you're wrong. It's forgetting to measure how much space you have for a Christmas tree, according to Christmas tree expert and owner of Big Tree Plantation, Frank Antenucci.
Without those measurements, shopping for a Christmas tree becomes a guessing game that you're more than likely to loose. For some reason, Christmas trees look super tiny at the farm. The eight footers, which look huge in our homes, look like little, baby trees when shopping. So naturally, we're all drawn to the huge trees. And yep, that 20 footer sure looks nice out in the wide open - perfect actually. But it's not going to fit in your home. And if you try, it's not going to be pretty.
"We get some really funny stories of people who did exactly that," Antenucci said. "They said it looked like a pineapple by the time they cut the bottom and then the top."
If looks aren't enough to convince you to get the right size tree, well maybe price will. The bigger the tree, the more it costs, according to Antenucci. So every foot you end up cutting off at home is extra money you could have spent on something important, like ornaments. Yea, you might have had something else in mind.
Basically, you need to measure before you go shopping.
Measure the Height of Your Ceiling. After getting the height of your ceiling, subtract two feet to find the height of the Christmas tree you should buy. The first foot you subtracted was to account for the Christmas tree stand. The second was to account for the star or angel you plan to put on top.
Measure the Space on Your Wall you Have for Your Christmas Tree. After finding how much space you have, subtract at least 2 to 4 feet. You need to have room to walk around your Christmas tree when decorating. If you get a Christmas tree that perfectly fits your space, you'll have to shove it in there, and you'll only be able to get lights on the front half.
Measure the Space on Your Wall you Have for Your Christmas Tree. After finding how much space you have, subtract at least 2 to 4 feet. You need to have room to walk around your Christmas tree when decorating. If you get a Christmas tree that perfectly fits your space, you'll have to shove it in there, and you'll only be able to get lights on the front half.
If you don't want to take a measuring tape out with you when shopping, Antenucci recommends using your body as a measurement. Stand with your arm straight up against the wall. Determine where on your arm you want your Christmas tree to reach, and that's the height you'll need when shopping.
Step 2. Find the Perfect Shaped Tree
Finding the right shaped tree might be the most agonizing part of Christmas tree shopping. That tree has a crooked trunk. That one has a big hole in the center. That one looks like it's been chewed by a bear.
Each tree has a flaw, and we walk on and on searching for the perfect tree. But more than likely, the perfect tree is right in front of you, and you just don't see it.
Every real Christmas tree is going to have a flaw. All you need to do is find one that is somewhat symmetrical and full. The flaws you see in the bare tree right now will end up being covered by ornaments, lights and all of the other decorations you use.
"What I have found is a tree with a hole is not a problem," Antenucci said. "I'm amazed with what decorators do with the tree. We take a 12 foot tree inside our barn every year, and I've gotten to the point where I don't even try to pick out a pretty tree because they stick something here, they put something there, they got this around, and it's just like they recreate what I cut down. It's not an evergreen tree. Now it's your Christmas tree."
Step 3. Find a Healthy Tree
Just because it's green doesn't mean it's healthy. When it comes to real Christmas trees, looks can be deceiving. So if you want to find a hardy tree that will last the entire holiday season, well, you're going to have to get up close and personal. But don't think hugging the tree will do the trick. You've got to treat finding a healthy Christmas tree like speed dating: You need quick and reliable evaluation techniques.
Here are the three ways Christmas tree expert and owner of Big Tree Plantation, Frank Antenucci, suggests getting to know your Christmas tree.
Pat the Branches: It's okay to get friendly with the Christmas trees you're considering. Give the branches a good pat. If lots of needles fall off, move on to another tree. If the needles hold firm, stick around to test the other two criteria.
Smell the Christmas Tree: A healthy Christmas tree has a good, normally strong aroma. But when you're standing in a field of Christmas trees smelling that aroma can be difficult. So Antenucci suggests stroking a branch and then getting close enough to smell it. Rubbing the branch will bring out the oils of the tree. If the tree smells fresh, there's a good chance it is fresh. If you can't pick up a scent, move on to the next one.
Bend the Needles: This test may be the least fun because some Christmas tree needles bite back. But despite the somewhat prickly ends, you need to see if the needles are supple. Take a needle between two fingers and gently press down. If the needle breaks easily, move on. If the needle bends gracefully, you may have found your perfect Christmas tree.
Smell the Christmas Tree: A healthy Christmas tree has a good, normally strong aroma. But when you're standing in a field of Christmas trees smelling that aroma can be difficult. So Antenucci suggests stroking a branch and then getting close enough to smell it. Rubbing the branch will bring out the oils of the tree. If the tree smells fresh, there's a good chance it is fresh. If you can't pick up a scent, move on to the next one.
Bend the Needles: This test may be the least fun because some Christmas tree needles bite back. But despite the somewhat prickly ends, you need to see if the needles are supple. Take a needle between two fingers and gently press down. If the needle breaks easily, move on. If the needle bends gracefully, you may have found your perfect Christmas tree.