Tips for Choosing the Right Christmas tree
Every family celebrates Christmas a little bit differently.
Sometimes that is simply because of tradition, but sometimes there
are other factors that come into play. Most people will agree that
the Christmas tree is central to holiday decorations and activity.
The tree is decked out most densely with decorations. It is also
the gathering place for all of the Christmas gifts. For that
reason especially, the tree holds huge significance for children.
Knowing how important the tree is, getting the right one is
definitely something to consider. Some tips for choosing the right
Christmas tree include: evaluate your space, know your household,
and consider the environment.
The fact is that a ten-foot Christmas tree will not fit in a home
with six-foot ceilings. When looking at trees outside or at the
market, it is hard to accurately imagine them in your house.
People frequently bring home trees that will not fit through their
doorway and will not stand up in their living room. It’s possible
to trim the tree once you have seen it next to your house, but it
will be easier to measure before you bring it home. It is possible
that a live tree is not for you. Even if you can get one that is
short enough to fit under your ceiling, there may not be enough
floor-space in your house to accommodate the branches. If it comes
down to the tree taking up all of the seating in your house or no
tree at all, consider the possibility of a smaller, artificial
tree, or even a live, miniature tree.
Six-inch trees are available potted and ready to happily grace
your table. You can even buy miniature decorations for them. If
you’d like a little bit bigger tree, maybe three feet tall, they
are available as well, though you might want an artificial one
rather than a growing, potted tree in your living room all year
around. An artificial tree is also a good idea if you have small
children or pets in your house. They will both play in the dirt of
a potted tree and make a mess of your carpet. A live tree in a
stand may also cause problems if you have pets that may jump into
a large tree and knock it over. They will be much less likely to
do so if the tree doesn’t look big enough to accommodate them.
Don’t worry though; there really is a Christmas tree for any
household.
Another thing to consider when looking for the right tree is the
environment. If you live in an area where there are abundant
trees, the forest service will often sell permits to cut trees on
national forest land. The permits are typically inexpensive, and
the thinning of the trees is healthy for the continued growth of
the forest. In that case, you will want to look for a tree that
will fit in your house. It is better not to cut down the very old
and very tall trees just to take a small portion of them home.
Look for an adequately sized tree that has short, soft needles.
These will be the easiest to decorate and will remain green for
longer than the trees with longer needles. If you live in an area
where trees are scarce, you may decide to decorate a tree in your
yard instead of cutting a tree or buying a cut tree in order to
preserve what you have. Better yet, buy a potted tree to decorate
in your home. When spring comes, plant it to strengthen the tree
population around you.
Whatever your Christmas tradition is, it probably includes a tree.
There are so many options when considering your Christmas tree, it
is nearly impossible to go wrong. No matter how much space you
have, who the people and animals in your house are or your
relationship to the environment, you will find a tree that will
work for you and your family. If you cannot decide what will be
best for you, try something and see how it works. Next year you
can try another kind of tree. There is no wrong answer when it
comes to finding a good tree. A little bit of trial and
experimentation will help you find the right one. Happy holidays
and have a great time hunting down the right tree. |
Christmas Trees