There is something special about bringing a real Christmas tree into your home.
The fragrance of fresh evergreen, the slightly imperfect branches, and the tradition of choosing the tree and decorating it together are all part of the experience.
But choosing a fresh Christmas tree isn’t quite as simple as finding one that looks pretty on the lot. Different varieties have different shapes, fragrances, branch strength, and needle retention. And once you bring your tree home, a little care can make an enormous difference in how it looks throughout the Christmas season.
Whether you’re visiting a local Christmas tree farm, cutting your own tree, or choosing one from a nearby retailer, here’s how to find the right tree for your home—and keep it fresh, beautiful, and ready for decorating.
Before You Buy a Real Christmas Tree
Before heading out to find the perfect tree, grab your tape measure.
Measure the height and width of the area where you plan to put your Christmas tree. Remember to allow room for your tree stand at the bottom and your tree topper at the top.
It’s surprisingly easy for a tree that looks perfectly proportioned outdoors to suddenly seem enormous when you bring it into your living room!
Also think about how you plan to decorate your tree.
Do you have a collection of heavier ornaments? You’ll want a tree with strong branches and enough space between them to showcase your favorites.
Prefer a softer, more natural look with ribbon, lightweight ornaments, and twinkle lights? A tree with softer foliage or fuller branching may be perfect.
Your decorating style can actually help determine which variety of Christmas tree you’ll enjoy most.
Consider Buying From a Local Christmas Tree Farm
One of my favorite ways to shop for a real Christmas tree is at a local Christmas tree farm.
Depending on the farm, you may be able to select a freshly cut tree or walk through the fields and cut your own.
A choose-and-cut tree offers an obvious advantage: you know exactly when your tree was harvested.
If you purchase a pre-cut tree from a retail lot, don’t assume that means it isn’t fresh. Ask the retailer when the trees arrived and whether they receive additional shipments throughout the season.
The National Christmas Tree Association recommends checking the tree itself for freshness rather than relying solely on when or where it was purchased.
How to Tell If a Real Christmas Tree Is Fresh
Before buying a pre-cut tree, take a few minutes to inspect it.
Run your hand gently along one of the outer branches. The needles should remain attached rather than falling off easily.
Then gently bend an outer branch. A fresh branch should feel flexible rather than brittle or easily snapped.
Look at the overall appearance of the tree, too. Avoid trees with excessive needle loss, faded or discolored foliage, brittle branches, wrinkled bark, or other obvious signs of drying.
Don’t worry if you notice a few older needles toward the interior of the tree. Evergreens naturally shed some of their oldest interior needles.
What you’re looking for is healthy, pliable green growth on the outside of the tree.
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree
If you have a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm nearby, cutting your own tree can turn Christmas tree shopping into one of the most memorable traditions of the season.
And you can’t get much fresher than that.
Many farms will shake the tree after cutting to remove loose needles and debris and then wrap or net it for easier transportation.
There’s also something wonderful about walking through rows of trees until everyone agrees:
That’s the one.
Then you get to bring it home and make it part of your Christmas.
What Is the Best Type of Real Christmas Tree?
There isn’t one “best” Christmas tree for everyone.
Some people want fragrance. Others care most about needle retention. And if you have a treasured collection of ornaments, branch strength may be your highest priority.
Here are several popular varieties to consider.
Fraser Fir
If you picture a classic Christmas tree, there’s a good chance you’re imagining something similar to a Fraser fir.
Fraser firs have attractive blue-green foliage, good needle retention, a pleasant evergreen fragrance, and sturdy branches that work well for hanging ornaments.
The branching tends to have enough definition and separation to allow individual ornaments to show.
Best for: Traditional Christmas decorating, ornament collections, vintage Christmas decor, and anyone who loves the classic Christmas tree look.
Balsam Fir
For many people, the fragrance of balsam fir is the fragrance of Christmas.
Balsam firs have soft, dark green foliage, an attractive traditional shape, and that wonderfully recognizable evergreen scent.
They also provide good support for ornaments when kept properly hydrated.
Best for: Anyone who considers Christmas tree fragrance one of the most important parts of having a real tree.
Douglas Fir
Douglas fir has soft green to blue-green needles and a naturally full appearance.
Its softer foliage makes it beautiful for a lush Christmas tree decorated with lights, ribbon, garlands, bows, and lighter ornaments.
If you own many heavy ornaments, however, you may prefer one of the firs or a Scotch pine with somewhat stronger branches.
Best for: A full, soft-looking tree and decorating styles that use ribbon, lights, garlands, and lightweight ornaments.
Scotch Pine
Scotch pine is a longtime Christmas favorite.
Its branches are strong enough to support heavier ornaments, and it has a reputation for good needle retention.
This can be an especially practical choice if you have collected substantial glass, ceramic, or handmade ornaments over the years.
Best for: Heavy ornaments, traditional Christmas decor, and families looking for a sturdy tree.
White Pine
White pine has long, soft needles that give the tree an airy, graceful appearance.
Its branches are more flexible than those of many firs and Scotch pine, so it’s not my first choice for a collection of heavy ornaments.
But for a natural Christmas look with lights, ribbon, bows, lightweight ornaments, or simple decorations, it can be absolutely beautiful.
Best for: Natural, rustic, country, woodland, or minimalist Christmas decorating.
Canaan Fir
If you find Canaan firs available at Christmas tree farms in your area, they’re another variety worth considering.
Canaan fir combines many of the qualities people enjoy in traditional fir Christmas trees, including attractive foliage, fragrance, and good post-harvest characteristics.
Availability varies considerably by region, so your local Christmas tree grower is often one of the best sources for determining which varieties perform well where you live.
Best for: Anyone who loves the traditional fir look and wants to try a locally grown alternative.
Choosing a Tree Based on How You Decorate
This is something people don’t always consider when shopping for a real Christmas tree:
Think about what the tree will look like decorated—not just what it looks like on the lot.
A heavily sheared, very dense tree can look beautiful undecorated, but there may be less room for larger ornaments to hang naturally.
A tree with slightly more open branching can provide wonderful little spaces for ornaments, allowing each one to stand out.
If your decorating style includes lots of ribbon, lights, bows, and smaller ornaments, a fuller tree can create that lush Christmas look.
And if you love a simpler aesthetic, an airy tree with natural spacing between the branches can be gorgeous with little more than warm white lights and a carefully chosen collection of ornaments.
Your perfect real Christmas tree decorated should reflect your home and your Christmas traditions—not necessarily look like everyone else’s.
How to Get Your Real Christmas Tree Home
If possible, have your tree netted before transporting it.
Netting pulls the branches inward, making the tree easier to handle and helping protect them during the trip home.
If you’re transporting the tree on top of a vehicle, make sure it is securely tied according to your vehicle and carrier recommendations.
Once home, avoid leaving your tree somewhere warm or exposed if you aren’t ready to bring it indoors.
If you’re going to store it temporarily, keep it in a cool, protected location and place the freshly cut trunk in water.
Make a Fresh Cut Before Putting the Tree in the Stand
Before placing your Christmas tree in its stand, make a fresh, straight cut across the base of the trunk.
The National Christmas Tree Association recommends removing approximately 1/2 inch from the bottom of the trunk.
There’s no need to make an angled cut, cut the trunk into a V shape, or drill a hole into the bottom. These tricks don’t improve the tree’s ability to absorb water.
You also shouldn’t whittle down the sides of the trunk to make it fit into a stand. The outer layers of the trunk are particularly efficient at taking up water.
Instead, choose a tree stand that properly accommodates the diameter of your tree.
The Secret to Keeping a Real Christmas Tree Fresh: Water
If you remember only one care tip from this article, make it this one:
Never let your Christmas tree run out of water.
A water-holding tree stand is the most effective way to maintain freshness and minimize needle loss.
Choose a stand with a generous reservoir. As a general guideline, the National Christmas Tree Association recommends a stand that provides approximately one quart of water capacity for every inch of trunk diameter.
A tree with a four-inch trunk, for example, should have a stand capable of holding approximately one gallon of water.
Trees can take up a surprising amount of water, particularly after being brought indoors.
Check the reservoir every day, especially during the first several days.
Most importantly, make sure the water level never falls below the bottom of the trunk.
What Should You Put in Christmas Tree Water?
Plain water.
You may have heard suggestions for adding sugar, aspirin, bleach, fertilizer, soda, or other homemade concoctions to Christmas tree water.
You don’t need them.
Research cited by the National Christmas Tree Association indicates that plain tap water is best, and some additives can actually interfere with moisture retention or increase needle loss.
That’s one Christmas chore you can happily skip.
Where Should You Put a Real Christmas Tree?
Where you place your tree can affect how quickly it dries.
Keep your Christmas tree away from major sources of heat, including:
- Fireplaces
- Wood stoves
- Radiators
- Heating vents
- Space heaters
- Strong direct sunlight
Heat increases moisture loss and can cause the tree to dry more quickly.
The National Fire Protection Association also recommends keeping Christmas trees at least three feet away from heat sources and positioning them so they don’t block an exit.
How to Decorate a Real Christmas Tree
Once your tree is securely positioned and watered, the fun begins.
Before decorating, allow the branches to settle into their natural position after removing any netting.
Then add your lights first.
I prefer working from the inside of the tree outward rather than simply wrapping lights around the exterior. Tucking some lights deeper among the branches adds dimension and gives the tree that beautiful glow-from-within effect at night.
Next, add ribbon or garland if you’re using it, followed by larger ornaments and finally smaller ornaments to fill in the tree.
But don’t feel as though every branch needs something on it.
One of the most beautiful things about a real Christmas tree is its natural character. Leaving a little breathing room allows you to appreciate the texture and shape of the evergreen itself.
A Real Christmas Tree Decorated Simply
You don’t need hundreds of ornaments to create a beautiful tree.
For a quieter, natural look, try warm white lights with a restrained collection of ornaments, velvet ribbon, wooden decorations, pinecones, or simple bows.
The greenery becomes part of the decor rather than merely the backdrop for it.
A Real Christmas Tree Decorated Traditionally
If you love a nostalgic Christmas, embrace it.
Use your collected ornaments, glass baubles, family keepsakes, children’s handmade decorations, ribbon, garland, and a favorite tree topper.
A Fraser fir or Scotch pine can be especially useful when you have lots of ornaments because of their stronger branches.
The result doesn’t have to look perfectly coordinated.
Sometimes the most beautiful Christmas tree is the one that tells your family’s story.
Real Christmas Tree Safety
A well-hydrated tree is an important part of keeping a real Christmas tree fresh, but you’ll also want to use good electrical and fire-safety practices.
Before putting lights on your tree, inspect the strands and replace lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions for how many strands can safely be connected.
Never decorate a Christmas tree with lit candles.
Turn Christmas tree lights off before leaving home or going to bed.
And continue monitoring the condition of the tree throughout the season. If it becomes excessively dry, remove it from your home rather than trying to stretch the season a little longer.
Christmas tree fires aren’t common, but according to the National Fire Protection Association, they can become serious very quickly when they do occur.
How Long Will a Real Christmas Tree Last?
There’s no exact number of days that applies to every tree.
Species, freshness when purchased, indoor temperature, placement, and—most importantly—consistent access to water can all affect how long a cut Christmas tree remains attractive.
Rather than relying on the calendar, pay attention to the tree.
Green, flexible foliage and firmly attached outer needles are good signs. Brittle branches, significant needle loss, fading color, and increasingly dry foliage indicate that it’s time for the tree to come down.
Why Is My Christmas Tree Dropping Needles?
A small amount of needle drop is normal.
Evergreens naturally shed some of their older interior needles, and moving and decorating the tree can shake additional loose needles free.
Heavy shedding from the outer branches, however, can indicate that the tree is drying.
Check your water reservoir immediately and make sure the bottom of the trunk is still submerged.
Also look at the tree’s location. A nearby heat vent, fireplace, radiator, or strong sunlight can accelerate drying.
Should I Use a Christmas Tree Removal Bag?
A Christmas tree removal bag can make cleanup easier, particularly if your tree must travel through several rooms before reaching the door.
Depending on the style of bag, it can be positioned around or beneath the tree early in the season and pulled up around the tree when you’re ready to remove it.
It’s certainly not essential, but anything that keeps hundreds of dry needles from traveling across the living room carpet is worth considering!
What Should You Do With a Real Christmas Tree After Christmas?
Once your tree becomes dry—or once you’re simply ready to take down your Christmas decorations—don’t leave a dried tree sitting inside the house or garage.
Check with your local municipality or waste-management provider for Christmas tree recycling or collection programs.
Many communities collect real trees after Christmas and recycle them into mulch or use them for other community projects.
Before recycling your tree, remove the stand and all decorations, including ornaments, hooks, lights, ribbon, garland, and tinsel.
And never burn your Christmas tree in your fireplace or wood stove.
Real Christmas Tree FAQs
How much water does a real Christmas tree need?
Water use varies by tree, but a fresh tree can take up a significant amount of water. Check the stand every day and make sure the cut end of the trunk remains submerged.
Should I put sugar or aspirin in my Christmas tree water?
No. Plain tap water is recommended. There’s no need for sugar, aspirin, bleach, fertilizer, or other homemade additives.
How can I tell whether a Christmas tree is fresh?
Look for green foliage, flexible outer branches, and needles that remain attached when you gently run a branch through your hand. Excessive needle loss, brittle branches, faded foliage, or wrinkled bark can indicate excessive drying.
Which real Christmas tree is best for heavy ornaments?
Trees with stronger branches, such as Fraser fir and Scotch pine, are good choices when you have heavier ornaments.
Which Christmas tree smells the best?
Fragrance is subjective, but balsam fir is particularly well known for its traditional evergreen Christmas scent. Different firs and pines have distinctly different fragrances, so smell the trees when you’re shopping and choose your favorite.
When should I take my real Christmas tree down?
Don’t base the decision entirely on a particular date. If the tree becomes dry, brittle, or begins losing significant amounts of its outer needles, it’s time to remove it.
Enjoy Your Real Christmas Tree
There may be easier ways to put up a Christmas tree, but there’s something about a real tree that can’t quite be duplicated.
Maybe it’s the fragrance when you walk into the room.
Maybe it’s finding a few stray needles on the floor.
Or maybe it’s simply the ritual—choosing the tree, bringing it home, untangling the lights, pulling familiar ornaments out of their boxes, and watching an ordinary evergreen slowly become your Christmas tree.
Choose a fresh tree, give it plenty of water, keep it away from heat, and then enjoy it.
Because before long, the lights will come down, the ornaments will return to their boxes, and another Christmas will become a memory.
Happy decorating—and Merry Christmas!