It's now December, which means you have to buy a Christmas tree if you haven't yet done so. One of the clearest signs that your family is getting ready to celebrate this Christmas is that they're bringing home a nice tree.

 

To make the job easier for you, the following tips will help you pick the best real Christmas tree.

 

Measure the space

 

Before you start shopping for that ideal tree, you have to decide where to place it in your home. Once you've picked the spot, measure the width of your space and the ceiling height. Also, you have to take measurements of the front door's width as well as all narrow spaces your tree will go through before it's placed in the right spot. Write down these measurements. Have a tape measure at hand while shopping. It will enable you to measure trees you're thinking of buying.

 

Supporting your Christmas tree

 

There are various Christmas tree stands available, but most people love to fashion support for the tree using a large bucket or pot. The taller your Christmas tree, the bigger its diameter will be, so your Christmas tree stand has to be stronger. When purchasing a stand, pick one with water to help keep your tree fresh during Christmas.

 

Place a waterproof covering, such as plastic, where the tree will stand to avoid ruining the carpet or getting watermarks on your floor. If your Christmas tree is really huge, or you're afraid it will flip over, attach a large, flat plywood to its stand to broaden the base of your tree, make it more stable as well as protect the floor.

 

Where your Christmas tree stands

 

Where your Christmas tree is placed is very important as certain areas of your home may pose a fire risk. Make sure to avoid areas like near fireplaces, in direct sunlight, as well as near heaters. Know more about Christmas Tree Care.

 

Picking your ideal real Christmas tree

 

Your tree needs to have adequate room between branches where ornaments can be placed. The branches should also be sturdy enough to hold heavier decorations. Your Christmas tree will look much better if decorations are hanging straight. To test your tree, hang your ornaments on several branches of the tree to see if there's space for the ornaments to hang straight.

 

To find out if your tree is fresh, check to see if its needles look shiny, fresh and green, rather than dry or brown. Pull on a few branches to ensure the needles do not fall off. After you get home, slice off around 2cm of the trunk's bottom so your tree begins to absorb water right away. The tree should stand completely vertical. To learn more about Christmas trees, check out http://www.britannica.com/plant/Australian-Christmas-tree.