Choosing, and caring for, a live Christmas tree

Here are some tips for choosing, and caring for, a live Christmas tree:

If planning to cut your ownŸMeasure your room. Know how high your ceiling is and how wide the door is before trying to shove a tree inside.ŸFor your tree hunt, wear warm clothes, thick gloves and sensible shoes. #147;Don#146;t wear your brand new pretty boots; you#146;re going to get muddy,#148; said Dee Kobervig of Crystal Creek Tree Farm in Camino, Calif. #147;Prepare to get wet. Even if it#146;s not raining, the trees hold a lot of moisture.#148;ŸIf cutting a tree at a farm, you likely won#146;t need tools. Most farms provide saws, and some offer help cutting, too (usually for a gratuity).ŸMeasure the tree before cutting. Most farms have measuring poles available. A 10-footer may look #147;small#148; among other trees, but it may not fit in your living room.ŸCut the tree 6 to 12 inches above ground level, right above the first (or second) branch. That will allow the stump to grow another tree. The same stump can produce three or four trees over a 20-year period.ŸFigure out how you#146;re going to get the tree home. Most farms offer tie-downs and/or netting to bundle the tree, but you may want to bring something to cover your car#146;s seats or trunk bed. #147;Some people rent trucks and come up here with family, friends and neighbors to get several trees at once,#148; Kobervig said.If buying a precut treeŸBuy as fresh a tree as possible. #147;Check for smell first,#148; says Christmas-tree expert Mike Bondi, of Oregon State University#146;s College of Forestry. #147;Crush a few needles in your hand and take a deep whiff of that wonderful forest smell. It should have a good, clean evergreen scent.#148;ŸTry the snap test. #147;When you bend it between your fingers, a fresh needle should snap in half like a carrot,#148; Bondi said. #147;If it#146;s pliable, it#146;s a sign the tree is drying out.#148;When you get it homeŸTake another half-inch off the base of the trunk. #147;This opens up pores that get clogged by pitch or sap,#148; Bondi said. #147;That sap clogs up the tree#146;s ability to take up water.#148;ŸUse the biggest tree stand you can find, even for a tabletop tree. #147;Ideally, the stand should hold a gallon of water,#148; Bondi said.ŸTrees need water to stay fresh and they drink a lot. #147;An average fir tree will soak up one to two quarts every day for the first week,#148; Bondi said. #147;You#146;ll be surprised by how much they drink.#148;ŸKeep the stand filled with fresh water #8212; and nothing else. Research by tree growers shows that additives and preservatives did little to lengthen the life of a fresh tree.ŸPut the tree in a cool spot, away from furnaces, fireplaces and sunny windows. #147;I tell people to put them in the coldest room in the house,#148; said Kobervig. #147;Most people want to put them in the family room, which is often the warmest room. If you do, try to choose a cold spot in that room.#148;ŸWith proper care, a Douglas fir will last about three weeks before dropping needles. A Noble fir will last six weeks.