O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum: Tips For Picking Out The Perfect Christmas Tree

Tommy Barkham, whose family owns and operates the Rochester Cider Mill, may be a veterinarian now, but his years working in the family business have made him something of an expert on freshly cut Christmas trees.

In fact, he can still be found helping out in the cider mill's tree lot on his lunch break (which is where we caught up with him).

Here are his tips for finding the perfect tree:

Before you leave the house

Make sure you measure so you know exactly how much space you have to work with. Remember that the tree will not only be in a stand that will elevate it, but that you might also "want your angel on the top, so you actually want to sometimes go a little short," said Barkham.

"It's all about measuring."

Know what you want from your tree

Different trees have limbs of varying strength. "If you're going to have a lot of heavy ornaments, then you'll want either a blue spruce or a Fraser fir. They have stiffer, stronger limbs on them," said Barkham. The Douglas fir is the next strongest, with whine pines having the weakest branches.

"Those first two tend to last longer," added Craig Fraser (yes, like the tree), a family friend who also works in the cider mill tree lot.

Don't forget about Fluffy and Fido

Barkham – whose grandfather, father and sister are also veterinarians – can't help incorporating pet safety into his tree-hunting tips, and he recommends the blue spruce and Fraser fir trees for those who may have curious pets.

"They have the stiffest needles; they're the most painful one to handle, but you're less likely to have an animal like a cat or a dog play with your tree, too, and that can be a big thing, too – to deter the animal from bothering the tree."

Know your price range

White pines are generally the cheapest tree, said Barkham. "Douglas firs are the next step up, and then the Fraser fir, and the highest-priced would be the blue spruce," Barkham said. The size of the tree also affects its price tag, and knowing how much you want to spend ahead of time can help you pick out a tree.

Know when your tree was cut down

Barkham says trees in certain less reputable lots "will be painted because they cut them six months ago." To find the freshest tree possible, follow these suggestions:

• Ask when it was cut. A reputable lot should know when its trees were cut – and also where they're from.
• Smell the tree. "If it doesn't smell, then it's not really a fresh tree," said Barkham.
• Look for excessive shedding. "Most trees will be shedding needles," said Barkham. "Even when they're standing in the field, still in the ground, they shed needles all year round." He recommends that you "grab on and pull back and kind of feel if (the needles) are going to strip." 

Ask an employee to trim the trunk before you leave the lot

Once you've found the perfect tree, have an employee cut a half-inch or so from the base of the tree. "It usually saps itself shut," said Barkham, "so you cut the base of it and put it in as warm as your tap water will go."

This helps your tree absorb water faster, which keeps it healthier (and safer). It can absorb as much as a gallon of water in the first day, so be sure to check the water level frequently.

Christmas in February

Following these guidelines seems to work quite well for Barkham, who says his tree often lasts until at least Valentine's Day. "It's a combination of laziness," he joked, "and wanting that green object in your house to help deal with the gloom of no sunlight."

Fraser agreed, adding, "I have three trees up in my house."

For further care instructions for your new Christmas tree, please visit the National Christmas Tree Association's website and the U.S. Fire Administration's website.