How to Pick the Perfect Real Christmas Tree

There’s something about bringing home a real Christmas tree that makes it feel like Christmas has officially started.

The smell, the slightly uneven branches, the inevitable vacuuming of ten thousand pine needles... it’s all part of the experience.

But if you’ve never bought a real Christmas tree before, or you’re determined to pick a better one than last year, standing in front of a whole row of trees can be a little overwhelming.

How do you know which one is fresh? How big should it be? And why does the tree that looked perfectly reasonable outside suddenly look enormous once you get it into the lounge?

Here are a few things to look for when choosing your tree.

1. Measure your space first

Before you fall in love with a seven-foot tree, measure the space where it’s actually going to live.

Remember to allow for the height of your tree stand, as well as whatever you plan to put on top. A tree that fits perfectly from floor to ceiling before the star goes on may be a little too close for comfort afterwards.

It’s also worth measuring the width of the space. A tree can look quite narrow when it’s standing amongst other trees, but much fuller once it’s sitting in your living room.

A good rule is to leave a little breathing room around the tree rather than trying to fill every available centimetre.

2. Look for a fresh tree

Freshness is one of the most important things to consider when buying a real Christmas tree.

Give the branches a gentle shake or run your hand along a branch. A few needles coming loose is normal, but if large amounts of green needles are falling off, the tree may already be drying out.

The branches should also feel flexible rather than extremely brittle.

You can also check the trunk. A fresh tree should have some moisture and shouldn't look excessively dry or cracked.

If you're buying directly from a grower or tree farm, don't be afraid to ask when the trees were cut. The fresher the tree, the better your chances of keeping it looking good throughout the Christmas season.

3. Think about how you decorate

Not every Christmas tree needs to look perfectly symmetrical.

If you like a heavily decorated tree with lots of ornaments, look for a tree with sturdy branches and plenty of space between them. This gives your larger decorations somewhere to sit without everything becoming one giant pile of baubles.

If you prefer a more natural look, you might like a tree with a slightly more open shape.

And if you're someone who has a very specific decorating vision, don't be afraid to walk around the tree before deciding. Check all sides and imagine where your favourite decorations are going to go.

4. Don't just look at it from the front

This is an easy one to forget.

When you're choosing a tree, walk around it.

You might find that the tree looks beautifully full from one side but is much thinner from another. That's not necessarily a problem, especially if you're placing it against a wall, but it's worth knowing before you buy it.

If your tree is going to sit in the middle of the room, you'll probably want something that looks good from every angle.

If it's going into a corner, you can save yourself some space by choosing a tree that's fuller on the side that will actually be visible.

5. Check the shape

Real trees aren't manufactured to be perfectly symmetrical, and that's part of their charm.

That said, have a look at the overall shape before you commit.

Does it have a nice taper towards the top? Is the trunk reasonably straight? Are there any particularly large gaps that will be difficult to disguise?

A slightly wonky branch is easily worked around. A tree that's leaning dramatically to one side is a different story.

Also keep in mind that you can do a little trimming once you get home. Don't automatically reject a tree because one branch is sticking out where it shouldn't.

6. Consider how you're getting it home

It sounds obvious, but it's worth thinking about before you buy the biggest tree you can find.

Will it fit inside your vehicle? Do you have something suitable for securing it if you're transporting it on the roof? And do you have a clear path from the car to where the tree will be going?

There is nothing quite like discovering that your beautiful Christmas tree is considerably larger than your vehicle.

If you're buying from a tree farm, ask about their recommendations for transporting it safely.

7. Give it a good drink when you get home

Once you've chosen your tree, getting it into water as soon as possible is one of the best things you can do to help it stay fresh.

Make a fresh cut across the bottom of the trunk before placing it in the stand. This helps the tree take up water.

Then keep the stand topped up with water throughout the time the tree is up. Real trees can drink a surprising amount, particularly during the first few days.

Don't let the base of the trunk dry out if you can avoid it.

8. Keep it away from heat

Your tree might look beautiful beside the fireplace, but it's not necessarily the best place for it.

Try to keep your tree away from fireplaces, heaters, heat pumps and other sources of heat. Excessive heat can cause the tree to dry out more quickly.

It's also a good idea to keep it away from direct, hot sunlight where possible.

The cooler and more hydrated your tree stays, the longer it should look its best.

9. Let the branches settle before decorating

If you've brought your tree home and it looks a little narrower than you expected, don't panic.

The branches may have been compressed during transport and will often relax and settle once the tree has been set up.

Give it a little time before deciding whether you need to make any adjustments or trimming.

This is also a good opportunity to rotate the tree and work out which side you want facing the room.

10. Embrace the imperfections

Perhaps the most important tip of all.

A real Christmas tree isn't supposed to look like a perfectly symmetrical artificial tree.

It might have a funny branch. It might lean slightly. It might have a gap that you need to work around.

And once you've added the lights and decorations, you'll probably find that those little imperfections are barely noticeable anyway.

Part of the fun of a real tree is that no two are exactly the same. You're not just picking a tree. You're picking your tree.

Your real Christmas tree checklist

Before you bring it home, have a quick check:

☐ Is it the right height for your space?

☐ Is it the right width?

☐ Does it feel reasonably fresh?

☐ Are the branches flexible rather than brittle?

☐ Does the trunk look healthy and moist?

☐ Does the shape work with how you plan to decorate?

☐ Have you checked all sides of the tree?

☐ Can you get it home safely?

☐ Do you have a suitable tree stand ready?

Once you've found the one, get it home, get it into water and give those branches a little time to settle.

Then comes the best part: the lights, the ornaments, the music and that first moment when you step back and think, okay, now it actually feels like Christmas.

And if your tree ends up slightly wonky?

That's okay. Just add another ornament. Nobody will know.