O Christmas Tree

How to Set Up a Real Christmas Tree

Don't fool yourself, setting up a Christmas Tree isn't easy. In fact the Christmas Tree ritual of Christmas can often be the most time consuming and frustrating, second only to Black Friday Shopping.

So let's go through the process of selecting and putting up a Christmas Tree.

Step 1: Find the perfect tree for the perfect price. Christmas trees are in high demand from millennials. However the 2008 recession has put a real damper on supply. Trees take 8 years to grow, so stock is currently being sold from a time of recession. As a result, you will pay more for a tree. Normally we like to take the family on a short vacation to the Blue Ridge Mountains where we can select the perfect Carolina grown Fraser Fir from the Cartner Tree Farm in Newland. However, this year with the early snow storms we couldn't make the trek. So instead we visited tree lots... lots of them. The prices of trees varied and so did the quality. We found our perfect tree, an 8 footer, at our local feed supply store for half the price of other tent venders.

Step 2: Loading the Christmas Tree. When we visit tree farms in the mountains this is often done for us. We select the tree, they cut it down string it up tight, and twine it to our roof rack. Super easy with very little mess. I like small messes. A tree that has been bagged or strung is much easier to unload as well. Most tree lots will do this for you as well. However if you buy from the big box stores or some small venders, you might be hauling a tree with uncontrolled branches on top of the family minivan. Be prepared for sap and needle losses. We drove the old truck to the store and through ours in the bed of the truck. It was super easy.

Step 3: Unload the tree. This part should be done with extreme caution, especially if you haven't finished hanging your outdoor light festival. Nothing dampens Decking the Halls like a displaced back disc.

Step 4: Move furniture and prepare tree stand. I think most people understand the concept of preparing their tree stand for the tree they just brought home. Others might be thinking "what stand?" For those in question let me explain. Christmas Trees don't stand up by themselves, they need a stand. A proper tree stand should hold a significant amount of water. The stand should be extremely stable, and rugged. We place our tree stand on a rubber bottomed circular rug. The rug protects your floor from water spills and sap. Move all furniture and rugs between the door and the stand. This is important, you will drop some branches and needles, both could have sap and who wants a sappy jolly Santa?

Step 5: Cut the bottom of the tree off. It's best to cut the bottom 3 to 4 inches of the tree's trunk. Christmas trees generally have been cut, shipped, and dried out. It's important to start fresh with a clean cut to drop into the water.

Step 6: Carrying your Christmas Tree inside. I'm going to refer you to Step 3. Proceed with caution and take care of your back, you will need it operable to string lights on the tree.

Step 7: Insert the tree into the stand. I highly recommend you have a spotter for this type of work, nobody likes a crooked tree. After straightening the tree the best you can, have the spotter tighten down the tree stand.

Step 8: Water the tree. For the first few days, you will likely need to check the water daily. Keep your tree drinking as much as possible over the holiday. Not spells FIRE better than a dried out Christmas tree with 800+ little bulbs.

Step 9: Trim the bottom of the tree. Trimming the tree in general is a good idea. You can cut your tree and perfect its shape however you would like. But the bottom branches are the most important. If they aren't trimmed high enough, Santa's won't be able to squeeze presents under it.

Step 10: Once your tree is standing, trimmed, and ready to go, sweep. Sweeping and vacuuming regularly throughout this process will make clean up easier and keep sap off your floor.

Step 11: String up your lights. This part requires patience, balance, a good set of skilled hands, and an artistic eye.

Step 12: Make you final touches to you tree by adding ornaments, ribbons, stars, and charms.

#christmas #christmastree #chainsaw #funny

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