As families deck their halls for the holidays, experts are offering tips to safely enjoy Christmas trees all season long.

Live trees obviously require more maintenance then their factory-made counterparts. The tried-and-true method to keeping a fresh-cut tree alive is to put it into water as soon as it gets home, and to let it sit for a day to get acclimated to the new environment.

The FDNY suggests keeping your tree at least 3 feet away from heating sources such as fire places or radiators. Also, be sure to use a sturdy tree stand so the tree doesn't tip and tumble over.

Tree-trimmers shouldn't use electric lights on metallic trees. Some people prefer LED lights because they don't get as hot as standard lights.

Experts say it's important to unplug your tree, real or fake, when you leave the room or go to sleep. Power strips are a good idea because they minimize the potential for electrical damage and allow lights to be turned off all at once.