When only a live Christmas tree will do, you can find them pre-cut and ready to go at many places this season already.
Channel 3's Paul Thomas visited the Medina Christmas Tree Farm in Medina Township. Watch the video for his story.
But if you want to cut your own here in Ohio, go to OhioChristmasTree.com, type in your ZIP code, and find the closest tree farm.
In Ohio, expect to pay about $75 for and 8' to 9' Fraser Fir this season.
Here are some tips from Christmas-tree-care.com
- Be sure it is green and healthy, fragrant, and has moist, flexible needles. It shouldn't be drying out or browning. Avoid trees with broken branches or damaged bark. Bounce the tree lightly on its cut end if you can or shake it. A little sprinkling of needles is inevitable, but they shouldn't rain down.
- Pay attention to the tree's size. Make sure it will fit easily in the room and location you have chosen. Measure the space in the house, and then bring the tape measure along for the shopping trip.
- Check the bottom of the tree. Is there enough space between the end and the lowest branches to make a slightly diagonal fresh cut? Cutting an extra inch off the bottom before mounting your tree will greatly help water absorption and ensure your tree lasts as long as possible.
- Be sure to make this final cut just before placing it in water. If it is exposed to the air for too long, the vessels will become blocked.
The National Christmas Tree Association also has some tree care tips.
- Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, reducing water consumption each day.
- The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.
- Check daily to make sure that the water level does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.
- Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.
- Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.
- Do not overload electrical circuits.
- Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or going to bed.
WKYC-TV