With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to start getting ready for Christmas and with Christmas comes Christmas trees. Here’s our yearly article guide to what you should know to purchase the perfect tree and how to take care of that tree once you get it home.

The first thing to consider before going tree shopping is to figure out what size of a tree that spot in your home can handle. The last thing you want to do is pay for a tree that is too big for your space and then have to whittle that tree down in size to fit your space. So, get out the tape measure and find out how tall and wide your tree can be for your space. This will save you not only time but also money from purchasing a tree bigger than you need.

Now that you have the size you are going to be looking for, you need to decide where you want to shop. Nurseries, along with several of the big box stores will be selling Christmas trees and of course there will be a variety of seasonal stands that appear for a few weeks each year.

If you would like a Christmas tree experience that harkens back to earlier times, you can visit one of our area Christmas tree farms. Just search the internet for one near you and go pick out your live tree. They don’t get much fresher than that.

You’ll also need to decide which variety of tree you would like for your Christmas tree this year. Local tree farms should have a selection of trees such as Leyland cypress, Arizona cypress, Virginia pine, or white pine. Tree lots will probably have Norman fir, Noble fir, or Frasier fir. Any or these will make great trees for decorating.

When shopping from pre-cut trees, you’ll want to try and find the freshest tree you can find. To determine freshness, try bending some needles. The needles of fresher trees will bend while the needles on trees that have been cut for a while will snap off. If they snap off, keep looking.

When you get your tree home, cut off about an inch from the base of the tree and place it in a container of water until you are ready to bring it inside to decorate.

To bring it inside, you’re going to want a good, sturdy tree stand. Try not to skimp in this area since you will probably be using this tree stand for several years. And it’s a good idea to get one that will hold water so it can help your tree keep from becoming a fire hazard by drying out.

Speaking of drying out, try not to place your tree near a heater vent or the fireplace since dry trees have a greater risk of fire than ones that are well hydrated. And, last but not least, don’t leave the lights on your tree on when you aren’t home. It’s tempting, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to a Christmas you’ll remember for years. Good luck.

You can get answers to all your gardening questions by calling the Tulsa Master Gardeners Help Line at 918-746-3701, dropping by our Diagnostic Center at 4116 E. 15th Street, or by emailing us at mg@tulsamastergardeners.org. Photo: OSU Ag. Communications