To shake out remaining dead needles, pick up your final selection and drop it on its trunk (obviously, you can only do this if you visit a precut farm). Very few, if any, green needles should drop to the ground.
Look for odd needle discoloration, needle feeding (where parts of the needles appear to be eaten), injuries to shoots or branches, shoots that are webbed together, shoots that are more than one color (red, yellow, and brown), pitches or holes in the bark, places where bark is missing, and small “blisters” on shoots or branches. [3] X Research source
Be sure to estimate the “felling zone,” the zone in which the tree is likely to fall. In order to do this, use the ax handle trick. Hold an ax at arm’s length away from you, close one eye, and back away from the tree. When the top of the ax is even with the top of the tree, stop. Where your feet are at is where the top of the tree should land. Begin cutting the trunk low to the ground—as low as you can go. Cut straight across. If you do not like how the bottom branches look, keep in mind that you can always trim those off. However, you cannot add length to the tree trunk, and if it does not fit inside the stand, you will not be able to display your tree for the holidays. If possible, have someone hold the tree as high up as they can reach. This will prevent the tree from falling, and therefore, prevent any damage to the limbs and needles. Once the tree is cut, have someone help you carry it. You do not want to drag it through the mud. Again, this will damage the branches and needles. Not to mention, it will collect dirt, mud, and pests that you do not want in your home.
If you choose to put your tree on top of your vehicle, lay down a blanket (to protect the paint) and lay the tree butt forward. This is very important, as it will keep the branches from catching any wind and blowing off the needles. If you have a luggage rack, tie the tree twice to both sides. If you do not have a luggage rack, wrap the twine or rope through the windows or doors at the front of the vehicle and again at the back.
Once you make the cut, immediately place your tree in a bucket of water until you have the tree stand set up.
Check your tree daily to make sure that it does not run out of water. A Christmas tree watering system increases the water capacity of your stand, provides a visual indication of your stand’s water level and makes it easy to add water. NO crawling under the tree. No spilling water on your floor. If your tree still ends up getting dry despite your best efforts to keep it watered, drill some holes into the base to allow for a direct entry point for the water.
You can also choose to spray your tree with an anti-transpirant so that it will retain moisture better and thus stay fresher longer.
Take the tape measure and measure the height, width, and depth of the space. To determine the maximum height that will work for the space, remove one foot of height to allow for the tree topper, and another six inches to allow for the tree stand. Because Christmas trees tend to be symmetrical, use the smaller of the width and depth measurements to determine how round of a tree you can get.
If you place your tree next to a fireplace, be sure to douse the fire before leaving the room. Never leave your tree next to an unattended lit fireplace. If you place the tree near an independent heat source, shut off the heat source whenever you are not using the room. Lightbulbs and fairy lights are heat sources too! When decorating, use LED (light emitting diode) lights, which burn cooler and are also much more energy efficient.
