8 Important Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Live Christmas Tree In Illinois

It's almost the time of year where families have to make a tough decision...do you go with a live or fake Christmas tree this year?

For years my family chose a live Christmas tree every year, and it was hard for me to let go of that tradition when we finally made the decision to go artificial. Nothing beats the smell and look of a freshly cut Christmas tree, but in the end, the sap and falling needles resulting from my kids and pets constantly knocking into the tree got the best of me.

What You Need To Know Before Buying a Live Christmas Tree

In all my years of buying live Christmas trees, I learned a few tricks that will prolong the beauty of your tree. Let's start with the three things I think are the most important:

Make sure you check the water level EVERY DAY. This may seem like common sense, but it's amazing how often you forget to check your tree's water level...don't do that.

Always do a second cut on your tree trunk. This is especially important if you buy your tree from a lot or a selection of pre-cut trees at a tree farm. A freshly cut trunk will always soak up more water.

Trees with shorter needles usually last longer and make less mess. I'm a big fan of a Frasier Fir. They may cost more, but in my experience, they drop waaay fewer needles.

Now let's get to some Christmas tree buying tips from bestlifeonline.com;

Save money by waiting until mid-December to buy your tree. I would never be able to wait that long to put my tree up, but if you aren't as Christmas obsessed as I am, this might be a smart way to save some cash.

Score a big deal by buying a tree with a broken top. A beautiful top is the money spot for a Christmas tree, but if you've got a big star or topper to put on it anyway, a less-than-perfect tree may be just the thing for you...and your pocketbook.

Bigger isn't always better. Big trees take up a lot of room, especially when you factor in space for the tree stand and topper, and it sucks when you have to do a bunch of trimming to get it to fit in your home. Plus, big trees usually dry out faster.

Your tree doesn't need all those fancy hydration products. If someone tries to talk you into buying hydration gels, powders or solutions that 'will' prolong the life of your tree, don't fall for it. These products actually contain additives that are bad for your tree according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Just use plain, ole water.

You can buy live Christmas trees online. If you're not anal about physically picking out the perfect tree, or just don't want to deal with the crowds at tree farms and lots, buy a live tree online. Amazon is just one of the retailers selling live trees online and there's always the buy online, pick up at the store option from places like Menards, Home Depot, and Lowe's.