Comments on: The Christmas Tree Crib Sheet: How To Pick, Set up, and Care For Your Tree

By: E. Robert Marquardt

E. Robert Marquardt — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:58:37 +0000

Tired of those flimsy tree stands that don’t hold enough water for your dog, let alone a tree? The best tree stand is a galvanized bucket or pail. Remove the handle and drill 4 small holes equally spaced around the rim. Attach the end of 4 lengths (3 foot) of bailing wire to the rim in the holes you drilled. Cut a piece of scrap 1/2in thick plywood or board to fit inside the bottom of the bucket. To mount the tree in the bucket, cut off the bottom inch of the tree (make sure it is square) and nail the piece of wood to the bottom (one nail will do). Stand the tree in the bucket, trimming off any low branches that interfere with the bucket. Making sure the tree is standing straight in the bucket, attach the 4 wires to the trunk of the tree, as far up the trunk as possibleand pulled tight, to secure the tree to the bucket. You should be able to lift the tree and the bucket will be securely attached. Carry the tree into the house and place it in the room on a piece of plywood or heavy cardboard so the pail does not mar the carpet/flooring. (Mom used to place a white sheet on top to cover the wood under the pail) Fill the bucket with broken pieces of bricks or concrete blocks and fill the bucket with water. The first day you will have to add water a number of times because the bricks will absorb the water initially. Add water daily to ensure the tree does not dry out so fast.
For an added measure of security if you have pets climbing in the tree or kids pulling the tree over, secure the tree with wire to nails in the baseboard, or at the top to the wall/ceiling. Decorate the pail by wrapping it with foil or mylar wrapping paper (waterproof), or you can decorate it by painting, etc.

When it is time to remove the tree, take out the bricks (helps to have another bucket to put them in, they will drip water.), remove the wires securing to the wall and carefully remove the tree, being carefull not to spill the remaining water. (I usually cut the tree in half so I can easily carry the bottom half with the bucket/water out without spilling.) unfasten the wires from the tree and remove the bucket and store for next year.

Works like charm, and not as hard as it sounds.

By: Ola

Ola — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:56:35 +0000

Though this may be considered cheating, putting a hook or nail in the ceiling and fastening the top of the tree to it with fishing line or similar may help you not only keep the tree straight when fastening it, if you leave it there, it will also prevent pets and kids from tipping it.

The real hurdle though, is to get the lights in, distributed evenly.

…and yeah, I want a vintage aluminium tree too, and a color wheel for it.

By: Feli Galker

Feli Galker — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:47:14 +0000

It’s a dying planet – every tree cut off is a dead lung.
A real man plants a new tree for every other tree he cuts down. Or pays for cutting down.
Urban men can donate to the JNF
(http://www.jnf.co.uk/campaigns/tree-certificates )
or any other forestation association for the wellbeing of our planet Earth.
Happy Holidays.

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paint brush clip art | Digg hot tags — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:30:42 +0000

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By: Adam

Adam — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:31:47 +0000

Do not use a reciprocating saw with a blade designed to cut metal to cut the end of your tree off.

Use a bow saw. If you do not have a bow saw, buy one. You will feel manly and will not look like a dunce trying to chip away at a 5 inch trunk with a screwdriver and hammer.

By: Terri

Terri — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:59:40 +0000

In this area at least, you can go to the tree farm and tag your tree early in the season, and come to cut it down when you are ready to put it up. This works very well for us, since our family tradition is to not put the tree up until the day before Christmas Eve. We do adapt a little to work around winter storms.

I have also gone the Forest Service route, and it is a great adventure. But the really manly part of any tree expedition is all the macrame involved. You should do an article on the manly art of securing cargo with rope, and the art of guying the tree to the woodwork with fishing line so it doesn’t fall over.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:40:35 +0000

Four words for you gentlemen: “Vintage Aluminum Christmas Tree”

I’ve got one and I put it outside my den every year. Sure, I wouldn’t make it the main tree in family room, but it’s tough to beat the two score and five ersatz retro arbor wonder for sheer coolness.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:23:40 +0000

I love our artificial tree. It’s a high-quality one passed down from my wife’s parents, and is at least twenty years old. Yes, it looks a little fake, but does a passable job as a fir tree that we only use for a couple of weeks a year. In the end, after it’s been decorated, it’s a Christmas tree that evokes just as much joy as a real one.

Even if your tree comes from a tree farm, how much water (and nutrients, and pesticide) is being wasted to grow these temporary trees? I find that pretty wasteful, myself.

By: Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:47:26 +0000

“Never, ever, buy a plastic tree. This is the cardinal rule of Christmas trees. It’s non-negotiable. ”

I’ve an artificial tree I’ve used for almost 30 years. It’s tough getting a real tree when you are stationed places like Saudi Arabia or Korea or the Philippines. It’s even tougher trying to explain to small children that Santa will come even if they don’t have a Christmas tree.
While I’d prefer a live tree, growing year after year as my children grow, an artificial tree has given them a sense of familiarity in a constantly changing environment. There is indeed a place for artificial trees.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:41:17 +0000

In addition to this post, a great tradition to have is volunteering to sell trees for charity, whether it be the Boy Scouts or your local church. I always have a great time with my wife helping families pick out their holiday tree. I hope to continue this tradition with a son or daughter someday.

By: grant

grant — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:34:00 +0000

I understand a 1:1 solution of sugared (not diet) lemon-lime soda (7-Up, Sprite, etc.) and distilled water is an excellent extender of freshness for cut Christmas trees.

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Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:57:23 +0000

[...] The Christmas Tree Crib Sheet: How To Pick, Set up, and Care For Your Tree [...]

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:11:29 +0000

I second Paul on the Blue Spruce – they are beautiful trees.

Also, I don’t quite buy into the “leave it outside for two weeks.”
We buy our trees the day after thanksgiving, and have kept them up to a few weeks in January. This can be 8+ weeks and we put them inside the day that we cut them down.

Fake trees are awful!! Great post.

By: Stan Duke

Stan Duke — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:41:48 +0000

I would love to have a real tree, even if just once, but can’t. But I do have at least a legitimate reason not to: a son with allergy-induced asthma. Live trees indoors plays havoc on his allergies. Just a heads-up for any parent’s looking to purchase a live tree for the first time.

By: John

John — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:44:15 +0000

You want a real manly thing to do? You can get a tree tag to cut one down out of a local national forest. It is great for the forest (thins things out since they don’t let them burn regularly any more), it is a little adventure, and is a great time with the family. Plus where I live, they are about $10…

What better thing to do than to show off your manliness to your wife, kids, and friends, than handling a truck/jeep; off-road, in the snow, trudging through the cold in awesome outdoor gear, bearing the elements to thin out the forest with a saw, or better yet an axe.

The tags usually have strict rules, which is a great start to building your kid’(s) respect for the laws, learning a little about the importance of “thinning” all populations and respecting the rules associated with such (hunting, fishing, etc). Plus, get your tree, bring some saucers and do some sledding away from those gross sled parks.

And if your friends complain about how “un-manicured” your tree is, you get to tell them an awesome story of facing mother nature to bring home a tree for your family (making everyone in the room, including their wife, jealous)…