How to Buy the Best Christmas Tree

Summary

The holidays are fast upon us, that season each year that sends hundreds of millions of Americans scrambling to the stores to purchase a dizzying array of retail items. Billions and billions of dollars across the country change hands as people buy presents for loved ones, holiday lights and accessories for their homes and the food and fixings for a traditional dinner.

And let’s not forget the multi-millions spent each year on the ultimate symbol of the season, the Christmas tree. Choosing the perfect tree isn’t as easy as it might seem, so this December arm yourself with a few strategies to make sure you bring home a beautiful, fresh, long-lasting tree that will accentuate your living room into the earliest days of the new year.

Shop Local: Whether you’re buying plants from an area nursery or produce from your farmers market, there are clear benefits to be derived from shopping local. The same holds true as you seek out that perfect tree. Locally grown trees are nearly always fresher than those that are harvested early and shipped long distances, and you will be in addition supporting the local economy.

Do the Research: Christmas trees come in a variety of species, all with unique qualities, so it is imperative you do your research ahead of time to ensure you pick the best type of tree for you and your family. For example, a tree with soft, flexible needles such as fir, balsam, Leyland cypress or white pine may be the best choice if you have younger children. Spruce, Scotch pine and others with sharper needles are beautiful but painful for bare feet and little fingers.
Measure by Measure: This tree you are seeking is bound for your living room, a finite space of specific dimensions. Have those number at hand when choosing a tree, and remember that the tree stand and topper will add a few inches to the total height. Also consider available width to ensure your tree isn’t smashed up against a wall. Be sure to take a tape measure along when you go shopping. Remember the old adage: “Measure twice, cut once.”
Put Your Senses to Work: There’s much your eyes and hands can contribute to this effort. First off, you will want to look for a tree with an evenly green, shiny color, as one that looks dull or uneven is probably not fresh. Then take your thumb and forefinger and pull along the length of a twig. If the tree is fresh, you won’t strip a lot of needles. Likewise, roll a few needles between your fingers to see if the tree emits a pleasant, outdoorsy aroma. Finally, hold the tree upright and bounce it on the ground. It’s normal for a few inner needles to fall off, but don’t purchase a tree that loses a lot of outer needles. If any part of the tree appears dry and brittle, pass it by.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.