How to Choose and Set Up a Christmas Tree, According to Experts

One of the most anticipated holiday traditions of the season is choosing your annual Christmas tree. The evergreen is the focal point for the rest of your festive décor, so selecting an option that looks great in your home is no small feat.

But this is just half the battle—the next step is getting your tree into its stand, where it'll be on full display until the end of the season. Setting up your Christmas tree the right way isn't just important for aesthetics, but it also contributes to the overall longevity of your tree.

A few preparatory measures—like trimming the trunk and proper watering—can make this sometimes-daunting job a success. To help you through the process, we spoke to experts who shared their tips for setting up a Christmas tree.

Preparing the Area

Before bringing your tree home, get the area where you plan to display it ready. 

Choose a Location

Set your tree up where you want it to live for the remainder of the season to avoid unnecessary movement. Also, choose a location away from excessive heat. "Keeping the tree away from heat sources, especially fireplace and wood stoves, is critical," says Bert Cregg, tree physiology expert and professor at Michigan State University. "If you can avoid placing the tree by a heat vent, shut the louvers to reduce warm air flow around the tree." Also, consider if there are any power outlets nearby to avoid the need for an extension cord.

Have Your Stand Ready

Your tree stand should be purchased and ready to be used when you get your tree home. "The biggest factor to consider in choosing a stand is water capacity," says Cregg. "The stand should hold 1 quart of water for each inch of trunk diameter."

Beyond water capacity, choose a stand with a wide base to keep the tree more stable. Most stands will indicate which size tree they can handle, so keep that in mind when picking out your evergreen.

Preparing the Tree

Knowing how to identify a healthy Christmas tree and trimming the trunk before putting it in the stand will ensure your evergreen lasts the entire season.

Choose a Healthy Christmas Tree

Choose a Christmas tree that has a deep green color and fresh smell. ."Give a gentle pull on the shoots with your thumb and forefinger—you shouldn't have any needles coming off your hands," Cregg says. Also, check the trunk before bringing your tree home to ensure it's free of splits or cracks.

Trim the Trunk

Have the farm trim the trunk of your tree or trim it yourself before you bring it inside. "A cut trunk saps and dries over time and will not drink water,'' says Sean Duffy of Stone Mill Gardens in Northern New Jersey. "You want a fresh cut. That way, it will soak up and drink the water." If you plan to trim the trunk yourself, use a pruning saw or hand saw and take about 1 inch or so off the bottom (or more if your tree is too tall for your home).

Setting Up Your Christmas Tree

Employ help when setting up your Christmas tree to avoid any accidental injuries. It's easier to set up a tree that's been netted and then take the netting off once it's securely in the stand. However, this method typically leads to more needle shedding in your home. Alternatively, you can take the netting off outside before setting it up. No one way is better than the other—it's simply a matter of personal preference.

Place the Tree in the Stand

Take the fuss out of setting up your Christmas tree with this expert-recommended method.

1. With the tree lying on the ground near where you will display it, place the stand on the trunk of the tree.
2. Tighten the adjustment screws enough that they'll hold the tree in place, but leave some slack so it can be adjusted.
3. With your helper holding the stand in place, lift the tree upright.
4. Have your helper hold and straighten the tree while you tighten the adjustment screws.
5. Instruct your helper to let go of the tree—it should stand on its own now—and check for straightness from a few different angles.
6. You may need to repeat steps 4 and 5 a few times until the tree is positioned the way you want it and is completely straight.

Fill the Stand With Water

Getting your tree in water as soon as possible is essential. If you don't have a stand yet, you'll need to keep your tree in a bucket of water until you're ready to set it up. Once in the stand, fill it with a generous amount of water.

"Never let the water level get low enough to expose the bottom of the trunk," says Tim O'Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association. "Think of it as a vase of fresh cut flowers; if you let the flowers run out of water, they will deteriorate quickly, same for your Christmas tree."

During the first week, a fresh-cut tree will drink a lot of water as it gets used to its new environment. Check the stand in the morning and night throughout that period to ensure the stand has enough water for your tree.

Let the Branches Fall

While we understand the urge to decorate immediately, give the branches time to fall before adorning them with heavy baubles. "You want to let the branches open up after being bundled up in the netting," O'Connor says. Letting it sit overnight should be enough time, but you can observe the branches as an indicator and decorate when they appear more open.