Nothing says the holidays are here like a Christmas tree. We have a few helpful tips that will guide you through selecting your tree and maintaining it!

Fruit slices aren’t just delicious, they’re decorative too! This is a fun project to do with the kids or to give your tree a fresh look. (Literally!) Dried citrus slices work best for this project and all it takes are a few materials and some time.

Preheat your oven to 200°F. Cut your citrus thin into circles. The rind should be intact on the edge because this will keep your slices from falling apart.

Pat the slices dry. Place the slices on parchment paper and turn occasionally. The citrus will take a few hours to dehydrate and in the meantime it will smell great.

You can also incorporate dry flowers to your tree for a unique look. Whether you have a real tree or not, you can have fun adding these fresh and festive touches to your tree.

There are only two types of commonly available Christmas tree, Balsam and Fraser, but it’s important to choose the right one to avoid disappointment.

Balsam is great for people who don’t have heavy ornaments and are looking for a very fragrant tree that smells like Christmas. Balsams have a beautiful, conical shape. The trees appear denser and more symmetrical than Fraser.

A Fraser tree is the best choice for people who have larger ornaments to hang. Although the fragrance is more subtle than Balsam, it will still smell nice and fresh. It’s also less prone to needle drop!

A fresh tree is a beautiful sight, but without the proper care, that green tree can look bare and brown quickly. The secret to keeping a tree green starts before the tree even comes inside. Make sure the bottom of the tree is cut fresh. Many stores offer this service and it goes a long way because it will allow your tree to soak in water.

Keep the tree in a bucket of hot water and let it soak it in. The hot water opens up the tree’s pores and will soak in faster and easier. When the tree is placed inside, room temperature water is fine.

It’s important to place the tree away from heat sources like radiators and fireplaces. It’s okay to place your tree near a window as long as it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

For the most part, yes! Christmas trees are grown like any other crop. When a tree is harvested, a new seedling is put in its place and in a few years it’s ready for harvest again.

Tree farmers section their fields with trees of different ages. Each year a new part of the field is ready for harvest. This unfortunately means the weather now can have impacts on the tree quality years down the line.

Unlike plastic trees, real trees are recyclable. Many municipalities will collect Christmas trees and turn them into mulch for public landscape projects. Some groups also use trees to replenish beach dunes or for animal play in the zoo! If you have a large property, you can toss your tree right into the yard. It’ll be a habitat for birds looking for tasty bugs and animals looking for shelter.