#decorateChristmastree

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Try These Tips to Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh and Greener

Winter holidays

Don’t we all love the holidays, the cinnamon smell, the excitement of buying and getting the perfect gift, the general vibe that seems to make you forget about stress and life’s low moments. However, we believe that the Christmas tree is the star of the holidays. If you’re not making it to get to Santa Claus’ heart, then you’re definitely doing it for your little ones. Some of us, like those who are huge fans of the winter holidays, would start decorating sooner than anyone would even think. You can’t blame them, though. It’s really soul nurturing to see those colorful lights going on and off. It makes you feel like a kid again, doesn’t it? But how could you keep the Christmas tree fresh and green through the holidays? It’s kind of tricky if you’re one of those who love the smell of an all-natural tree. However, as always, we have your back on this. We’ve gathered some really useful tips. These will help you keep that Christmas tree alive and kicking! A little history on the Christmas tree For starters, there’s no actual exact information to let us know where Christmas trees were first used. It’s assumed that about 1,000 years ago, in some Northern European countries, people started this tradition. While nowadays, we’re proudly placing our holiday decorated trees in a special place of the house, where everybody can notice them, back in the old days things were quite different. It seems that people used to hang their Christmas trees upside down from the ceiling. Chains were used to keep them in place and attached to either the chandeliers or lighting hooks. Across Europe, especially the Northern parts, people didn’t use the whole tree, but rather just a branch or a smaller plant. So if you were to have a time machine and you’d go back in the early days of this tradition being started, you’d see cherry or hawthorn plants. Sounds pretty strange, doesn’t it? Well, this wasn’t all! Those who couldn’t afford a real plant, were turning to wood pieces that they’d put in a pyramid. It really looked like a real tree, which they’d decorate with paper, apples, and candles. First Christmas tree Going back to when this tradition started, it seems that Germany is the place where a home was first decorated with such a tree. Preacher Martin Luther is known as the first person to have brought a Christmas tree in his home, in the 16th century. The story of this event talks about the man walking one night before Christmas into the woods. The image that he saw, with the starts shinning through the tree’s branches, was the trigger. He was so impressed with the scene he saw that, as he got home, he told his kids that it made him think of Jesus. He imagined that he went down from the stars to have an earthly experience on Christmas time. Christmas trees around the world There are many parts in the world, where Christmas trees are decorated each year in public spaces, just to please people’s eyes. As you may already now, the tree in Trafalgar Square, London, England, represents one of the most famous ones. In fact, the tree represents a gift that Norway offers the UK each year, as a thank you for all the help they got during the World War II. Also the United States of America have their own tradition of decorating huge Christmas trees during the holidays. The White House has this tradition since the 1920s, where they place a beautifully decorated tree on their front lawn. There are many other parts in the world, where people have different views on what Christmas trees are all about. For instance, New Zealand uses as a holiday tree one that’s called ‘Pohutakawa’ that has red flowers. In other parts of the world, like India, Christmas trees are the Banana or Mango trees, which people sometimes decorate. No matter what one might say, a natural Christmas tree represents a really fun to do and beautiful holiday decoration. And many people agree on this, if we were to judge by the surveys. It seems that in 2015, 25.9 million real trees were purchased, summing up a total of $1.32 billion, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. However, as beautiful as a natural tree may sound, there are some issues you might bump into. So how do you keep it fresh and green during the whole holiday season? Keep on reading to find out our useful tips! Give it water as soon as possible! What you’re bringing home is a real and alive plant. Therefore, if you want to provide its freshness on a long run, then you’ll have to give it enough water. Like with any other living plants, water is the number one key-ingredient for a successful recipe. Experts suggest that appropriately hydrating your Christmas tree should do a very good job in keeping it fresh and green. According to co-owner of the Sugar Pines Farm in Chesterland, OH, Jane Neubauer, you can easily do this. You just have to buy a tree stand that comes with a built-in reservoir. If you check it regularly, there’s no way that you’ll not built a healthy relationship with your Christmas tree. You’ll get to understand how much water your holiday tree really needs. This built-n reservoir is magic because you can re-fill it regularly so that your plant doesn’t have to suffer not even for a bit. Also, nowadays you can buy all sorts of additives that are meant to maintain a certain water absorption and to keep away any possible bacteria. However, these are not as important as keeping your Christmas tree well-watered. Keep its trunk trimmed It’s quite an interesting process that takes place each time a tree is first cut. In order to close the wound, sap comes into the scene to seal the bottom. This is what makes it quite difficult for the tree to absorb enough water. Experts recommend to place a fresh cut at the bottom of your Christmas tree right before you put it in water. Another very important tip to keep in mind is that you should always put up the tree as soon as possible. Try to doing this the same day you bring it home. So how do you do this trick? Just take a saw and trim half an inch off the trunk. Do this before you place in water in a reservoir stand. Specialists advise that you should go for a perpendicular cut to the axis of the stem. Avoid as much as possible to make the cut on the trunk at an angle or in a V-shape. Otherwise, keeping your tree in an upright position in the stand can be difficult. However, if you cannot put up the tree right in the same day you bought it, we have a short-term solution for you. Experts say that keeping it in a cool place with plenty of water should do the job. But, as you might have figured out already, it is best to set your Christmas tree as soon as possible. Water it Did we already mention this? Well, yes, but in this part of the article, we’re trying to make you fully understand this tree’s need. As you followed our first tip, you should already have a water stand for your Christmas tree. Check it daily for water levels and keep in mind this general rule: one quart of water goes for each inch of your tree’s stem diameter. You should let go of those popular beliefs that if you drill a hole in the bottom of the trunk you’ll have your tree for a longer time. Also, that tip with using a certain temperature to water it is quite overrated. However, according to some debates, it seems that your tree’s longevity might depend on certain substances. Some people believe that using corn syrup, aspirin, or sugar can keep your tree healthy for a longer period of time. Well, we read through several sources and we found out that a recent study concluded that none of these substances could do better than clean water. It’s not to say that these do any harm, but rather that they are not too effective, either. However, nothing should keep you from experimenting! It’s your Christmas tree, in the end, right? Keep your tree out of any heat sources or lights Heat or direct exposure to sunlight won’t do your Christmas tree any good! Also, placing it too near the furnace can easily make it dry faster. It can become dry and brittle if it has too much heat coming its way, as experts say. As the decorating lights are concerned, those small lights are not to be avoided. Also, you can still go for the big ones if you keep on appropriately watering your tree the right way. Another useful trick is to lower the temperature in the room where you place it. This will slow down the drying process. However, if your tree does dry out, then you should seriously think of recycling it. Just take it out of your house and don’t burn it in the fireplace or wood stove. Turn off the lights This one tip is not only good for your tree’s longevity, but also for your well-being, as well. The idea is that lights, kept on for too long, can become very hot. This can lead to your tree drying faster and even, unfortunately, cause a fire chaos. Do things the right way and play it safe! If you’re not around for more hours in a row, just turn the lights off. You can’t monitor your tree so be smart about this! Also, it’s extremely important to always do a check up on your light installation. Make sure that all your bulbs function normally and that none of their cords for the lights are worn or frayed. It is what it is: real tress can catch fire. Just follow the general safety rules and your holidays will be another beautiful memory to add in your life’s repertoire! Conclusions Hopefully, you found good and useful content in this article. It’s no rocket science to keep your Christmas tree fresh and green for a longer period of time. Just make sure you completely understand what keeping a real tree indoor is all about and you should be just fine! It’s worth all the effort, we think, to keep that Christmas vibe going on, with a beautiful, taken care of tree. Give out tips a try and see for yourself! Read the full article

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7 Tips to Help You Choose the Best Artificial Christmas Tree

Choosing the Christmas tree

There are many ways people choose to celebrate the Christmas holidays. Each of us have different needs and while some prefer a natural Christmas tree to brighten up their winter spirit, some turn to the artificial tree. With both options come several pros and cons, but who are we to judge, right? This article will not only detail a little on what advantages and disadvantages come with a real vs. artificial tree. You’ll also find out more on what to look out for when buying the best artificial Christmas tree that will decorate your home for many years to come. An artificial tree is a long-term investment If we were to go back some years in the past, we’d never even think of buying an artificial tree, having the options that we have nowadays. In the past, such trees came in quite unrealistic forms. It was pretty hard to completely feel the Christmas vibe around it. But that was life back then. However, in the present world, we should be extremely thankful because artificial Christmas trees have come a long way as they look more real and the quality is far better. Artificial Christmas trees variety You can find all shapes and sizes and even on different colors, like either green or white. They’re not very expensive and this is probably why so many people have turned to this option. In fact, the National Christmas Tree Association noticed that during 2017 consumers bought about 21 million fake trees. The gap between the two (i.e. fake vs. real tress) seems to come to an end, as surveys show. Americans, however, bought more real trees than artificial ones during 2017. The fact of the matter is that no matter what option you go for, you should always be aware what you’re spending your money on. An artificial Christmas tree should be seen as a long-term investment and that is why this article might really give you a hand. Keep reading to find out more about what are the 7 most important aspect you should consider when you decide to spend some money for your holidays. Is the artificial or the real tree better for the environment? Everybody can agree on the fact that the scent of a real Christmas tree has its own magic. It gives your whole house that holiday vibe. You might even feel like you’re in the mountains or something. It’s really the essence of the winter holidays. If we were to think this through the environmental perspective, things might turn to another direction. Experts say that a single acre of real Christmas trees has the ability to absorb about a tone of carbon dioxide emissions. In comparison, the soil itself can take in as much as 10 times this amount. However, according to the USDA, there’s a whole Christmas trees’ industry. This creates numerous jobs for more than 100,000 Americans. This should not be understood as a general aspect. Not all areas have the same access to Christmas trees and it all depends on the place where you live. In fact, you should consider that maybe your tree was brought from many miles away. Therefore, the quality and the rate of its longevity can be questionable. Also, this can also have a lot of negative say in how the environment is impacted. But nowadays there are several recycling programs that care for the planet. This is how, annually, almost 93% of real Christmas trees are reused in landscaping and gardening products. So far, the pinpoint of what we’ve mentioned is that there is just one disadvantage that comes with a fake tree. You loose that magical pine scent and you might not feel all that holiday vibe. Budgeting for an artificial tree First off, you get to better organize your finances with an artificial tree. You don’t get to spend money each year to purchase a new one. Just take a look at what the National Christmas Tree Association has to say about the prices: a real Christmas tree is worth about $75an artificial one is somewhere on the lines of $107 Usually, a fake tree should last for almost 10 whole years. Therefore, from a financial point of view, a real tree is not too supportive. The fact of the matter is that budgeting when you plan to purchase an artificial tree can be quite complex. Even though we’ve mentioned that $100 is what you’ll pay for your artificial Christmas tree, your expenses can go crazy if you’re not careful. You should keep in mind that you don’t get to buy just the tree, but also some decorations. Most of us overlook this, but it’s something that can make a huge difference for your money. Therefore, it is best to be realistic and be aware of how much you are able to spend, according to your budget. If you want to feast your eyes with a surreal looking tree, but you cannot go past $150, then you might get really disappointed. The right time to invest in an artificial tree As soon as you know exactly how much you’re willing to spend on a fake Christmas tree, set your right time for the purchase. Now, this comes with some ups and downs. On the one hand, if you buy it too early, you might have to take some more money out of your pocket. On the other hand, if you sit too long, waiting for the perfect Christmas tree to knock at your door, you might seriously limit your options. According to USA Today’s Matt Granite, the first two weeks of December are the best time to purchase your tree. He calls it the “sweet spot”. But other opinions, such as the TreeClassics blog’s one, suggest that buying it on a Black Friday or on a Cyber Monday could really make a difference on your finances. However, choose the week immediately following Christmas or maybe even in the middle of July. All in all, there’s no right time to buy your artificial Christmas tree. Just do your research and stay true to your budget. Then look for the options that fit your needs best and go for it! How to figure out your tree’s measurements? First and foremost, you need to know exactly where you want to place it. It might be in the middle of your living room, or on a hall, in a corner. You know best, but you should know for sure before you go shopping. As you choose the right spot for you, now it’s the time to take the measurements. Figure out how much space you’ll need on the floor and the ceiling height. Generally, experts suggest leaving a 6-inch space for your tree topper. So now you are all set; you bought the right tree and it’s time to set it up. Make sure that you have full access to all its sides, as you’ll decorate not only in the front, right? Also, you should have enough space near outlets. Be smart and don’t place it near any electrical outlets, heat sources, or other things that have the potential of setting it on fire. It’s always best to prevent than to treat! What style should you choose? So you measured your space and now it’s time to decide what style you prefer that your artificial Christmas tree should have. Think about the species. Should it be a fir, spruce, baby redwood, or maybe something else? You can even choose from subcategories, like the balsam fir, white spruce, Frasier fir, and many more. Surveys show that Americans prefer the Frasier firs for their winter holidays. Besides the species criteria, think about the model. Do you prefer a flocked tree or a dusted one, just to give it that snow appearance? Here’s an FYI for you: those trees made from PVC (i.e. polyvinyl chloride) can be cheaper, but they also come with a less realistic look. For a more real look, you can always go for the PE (i.e. polyethylene) trees. For this type manufactures use an injection mold process. However, these do come with higher prices. What is the best tree manufacturer you should pick? Even though the vast majority of artificial Christmas trees are made in China, there is a big difference between different manufacturers, in terms of quality. If you have in mind a certain tree brand make sure that you buy from it after you made your research. This is especially important if you purchase it online. Try using The Better Business Bureau to help you find more about the reputation of a certain online company. It’s true that most of these companies’ headquarters are located overseas, but you can always give it a try. In the end, bad reputation gets spread quite easily. So if your tree brand has some issues, you should have no problem in finding them online. Also, keep an eye on warranties. Depending on the manufacturer, the length of your tree’s warranty can vary. Keep in mind that in most cases, the length is highly dependent on quality of the product. A suggestion would be Balsam Hill. This one is known as the best artificial tree manufacturer that provides its customers with a 3-year limited warranty. You can also give Best Choice a try. This one is a budget brand that has a 60-day warranty. A pre-lit or an unlit Christmas tree? This last one tip is for you figuring out whether a pre-lit tree or an unlit model will work for you. It’s best to know some aspects of both options before you decide to spend your money on one. On the one hand, pre lit Christmas trees look great and they do give your home that holiday vibe. However, you’ll need additional budget to get separate light strands. Such models are available in all sorts of shapes and sizes to meet your preferences. You can choose among clear, multi-colored, or a combination in lights. A tree that comes with a space of 8 to 10 inches between its lights will always look better, giving it a more balanced look. Also, such types of trees can be a clear sign of a higher quality. However, there’s one detail that you should not miss with these pre-lit trees: the higher price. It makes sense that all these options bring along more expenses from your part. But if you really want to merry your holidays, then money should not be an obstacle for you. For some people who don’t have that much money on their hands, but who strongly crave for a bright and shinny Christmas, the unlit artificial tree can still be a good option. As we mentioned previously, if you make your research ahead of time, you can buy a perfect tree. You can even make your own decorations with paper, glass, and other such DIY materials. The choice is all up to you…and your budget of course. Conclusions Christmas is a great time of the year where you should have everything that you desire. You don’t have to spend enormous sums of money on an artificial tree. You just have to plan your finances and make sure that you don’t play above your game. Do your research, plan your budget, and choose your artificial Christmas tree that will stay with you for the next 10 years. Read the full article