GREENSBORO, N.C. — When picking out a Christmas tree, you want to do four things before you buy it and take it home to decorate.
According to This Old House, there are four tests:
Grab: You want to grab any branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull your hands toward you. If you end up with a handful of needles, the tree is past its prime. Leave it on the lot.
Crush: Seriously. Crush a few needles in your hand to check the scent. If it doesn't have that Christmas tree smell, don't buy it.
Bounce: Yes, pick up the tree a few inches and drop it. If a bunch of needles fall off from the exterior of the tree-- leave it. A few needles falling from inside the tree is fine.
Fit: You want to make sure the tree trunk will fit in your stand. Shaving off the sides to make it fit will strip off the layer that helps the tree absorb water.
Getting your tree home
Just like Taylor Swift with an old boyfriend, you want to shake it off. If your lot has a tree shaker, let them use it on your tree. If not, when you get home, shake the tree outside. This gets out bugs, leaves and the interior needles which will fall anyway.
The roof is the place to transport your tree. Take a tarp or blanket with you (Sap is hard to get out of paint and the branches can damage the top of the car).
Use nylon ratchet snaps if you have them, sometimes the rope the seller has won't cut it.
Always make sure the tree's trunk is facing the front of the car. This cuts down on the wind damage to the tree and makes it harder to fly off the car.