O Christmas Tree: Real or Fake That is St. Michael's Question

For a long time, my husband and I swore by the fake Christmas tree. It was easy, came in a box and we could put it up and take it down whenever we wanted.

Last year we cut down our first real tree and we’ll never look back now. Not only did we love going and cutting our tree down together but we really enjoyed the look, the smell and the feel of a real tree.

Real trees aren’t for everyone. Some have allergies or asthma that prevents them from going the natural route. Others just prefer a fake tree.

If you do decide to get a real tree fresh-cut Christmas tree, here are some tips for caring for and decorating:

Fresh Cut–Make sure when you purchase your tree from a tree lot that a fresh cut is made on the bottom, and then make sure you get home and get it in water within an hour.

If you cut your own tree, the same rule applies, make sure it is in water within an hour of being cut down. Doing so ensures that your tree can still uptake water and does not dry out and become callous.

Don't decorate your tree in front of a heater of any sort. In a cooler spot the tree will last longer, and use up less water because there will be less evaporation.

LED lights are best, but if those are not feasible on your Christmas tree use the smaller bulbs. Don't use the big lights that are intended for outside use.

Don't forget to water your tree, especially the first five to seven days. And if you want, give it a shot of 7-up or Sprite that first time. The sugar helps.

If you are looking for a local place to get a fresh-cut tree, here are a few places in St. Michael to check out:

•Rum River Tree Farm (corner of 241 and Lincoln Drive, just west of )

• (Wright County Road 19 on the south side of St. Michael)

•The St. Michael-Albertville Knights of Columbus - parking lot

Artificial–Make sure you store your tree in a place that reduces the amount of dust that can collect on the tree, especially if your children have allergies or asthma. Otherwise, you may as well deal with the allergies related to a real tree, and enjoy the pine scent.

Also, if you're looking for a "new" artificial tree, be sure to check stores at the end of the season. There are always great deals. Lesser "mainstream" stores when you think of holiday decorating, such as Home Depot, or (closer to home) Ace Hardware, might have some solid inventory on Dec. 26.