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There is no better way to inaugurate the holiday season than by cutting your own Christmas tree. Not only is it sure to be an adventure, it’s also significantly more satisfying than buying a pre-cut or artificial tree.
First things first: measure the space where you plan to put your Christmas tree—from floor to ceiling. Do not end up like Clark Griswold.
Next, find a location that allows you to cut your own tree. If you don’t know one off the top of your head, a quick Google search will show places nearby (assuming you’re in a region where Christmas trees grow). A local Christmas tree farm is typically the easiest option, but you can also venture into the woods if you’re feeling adventurous. If you do:
It also helps to know what type of tree you want before you hit the road. Tree availability varies by region, but here is a list of the 10 Best Types of Christmas Trees.
Once you’ve decided on the tree and location, gather the gear you’ll need to harvest and transport it. Some tree farms provide tools, but if you’re unsure, bring your own:
Proceed to tree farm! Yay! Yahoo! Adventure time!
Once you arrive, it’s time to pick out your tree. Only you will know what shape works best in your home, but it’s important to make sure it’s fresh. To test this, grab a pine branch and lightly pull on the needles. If they don’t fall off easily, that’s a good sign the tree will stay fresh for weeks (with proper watering).
When you’ve found the tree, it’s time to harvest. Keep these tips in mind:
Bring your tree back to your car (this is where the tarp shines). Then:
Once home, saw off about half an inch from the stump. This will maximize water intake.
And finally: water your tree daily for maximum longevity!
Before we talk about the joyful (joyless? Who’s to say, really?) task of putting up your holiday yard decorations and the implications it can have on your lawn, let’s do a quick recap of what happens to your lawn in the winter:
First off, what your lawn does in the winter depends widely on where you live. If you live in a warm climate where the temperature seldom drops below 40 degrees, your grass will likely keep trucking along as usual. But for much of the United States, winter brings chilly temperatures—temperatures that force grass to enter a period of dormancy in order to survive. This dormancy is a bit like the grass’ version of hibernation: it knows it’s going to have trouble maintaining the energy it needs to thrive, so it slows its roll and shuts down everything that is not strictly necessary for its survival—hence why grass largely stops growing and turns brown in the winter. More than anything, what’s important to remember is that your lawn is vulnerable and defenseless during the wintertime.
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Which brings us to your holiday lawn decorations. What? You mean in its poor and defenseless state grass doesn’t like being stabbed repeatedly by the feet of a ladder when you hang lights on your gutter? Nonsense. All joking aside, it is worth being at least a tad mindful when it comes to decorating your yard this year. Let’s take a look at two quick things you can do to keep it in tip-top shape:
In short, be a little mindful when decorating your yard this year. Your lawn will thank you come spring.