Tips For Trimming Your Tree

Are you tired of decorating your Christmas tree the same way each and every year? Maybe it’s time to mix it up a little bit this year and try something new. If you’re thinking about trying something different this year, great! Change is always good. Keep the following in mind while you’re thinking about what kind of tree to get, where to place your tree in your home, and how you’d like to decorate it.

Safety should be your top priority when you’re deciding what kind of tree to get and where to place it in your home. Live trees should never be placed near any type of heating source. If you have the option, try to cut your own tree, that way you know it is fresh! If you don’t have that option, take these steps to help determine just how fresh it is. While holding it, shake it and see just how many of its needles drop to the ground. Take a few and bend them. If they recover and return to their original shape, it’s a pretty fresh tree. It should also have some fresh, wet sap at the bottom if it’s been cut down recently. Check the shape of the tree as well. You want one that is strong and straight. The branches should be strong to support heavier ornaments.

Once you get the tree home, make a fresh cut off the bottom of the trunk to help it absorb water more readily. And just like a freshly cut flower, a tree needs to be checked daily to ensure it’s getting plenty of water.

You’ve probably got a different theme in mind for decorating this year’s tree. You’re only limited by your own imagination and creativity. A Christmas tree is a reflection of the family’s personality and history. Perhaps something big happened in your family this year, such as a wedding, the birth of a baby, or a college graduation. Incorporate those milestones into your tree if you like. You can even make your own ornaments by decorating colored glass ornaments yourself with glitter, glue, buttons, sequins or old jewelry or beading.

Decorate your tree from the bottom up. A good rule of thumb is 100 lights for every foot your tree is tall. If your tree stands six feet tall, that means you’ll need about six hundred lights for it. Don’t just decorate the ends of the tree branches. Hang some ornaments and string some lights on your tree closer to the trunk as well to add some dimension and depth. If you have your tree lights plugged in while you’re decorating, you’ll be able to see immediately how they look when you place them. Check for any bulbs that need replacing before you start placing the string on the tree. If you plan to use garland for your tree, you’ll need approximately 10 feet per foot of tree height. You can accent garland with ribbons, raffia, artificial flowers, and beads as well. Dried flowers can be used as well, just be sure to take special care they aren’t placed near any lights. Tree toppers can be just about anything. Again, you’re only limited by your own creativity.

Enjoy decorating your tree and have a joyous holiday season!