Cutting down your own Christmas tree is a fun-filled adventure for the whole family that adds a little extra ‘oomph’ to your Christmas decorations while you usher in the holiday spirit around the house. And whether you drive to one of those tree lots where you cut it down and they wrap it up all nice, or you’re pulling a Clark Griswold and lugging the whole family on a walk through the woods to find your tree, we compiled a list of tricks and tips that will make the trip and the tree cutting a bit easier when you finally run into your own ‘Griswold family Christmas tree.’

The Timing

First things first; if you don’t want to wake up to a Charlie Brown tree on Christmas morning, it’s important not to cut down your tree too early. A well-watered tree sitting in a tree stand will hold onto its needles for an average of three to four weeks, but I’ve seen some get pushed to six or seven weeks. Your best bet is to hold off until after the first week of December if you want your tree to make it throughout the holiday seasons.

The Tools

You’re going to need to bring a handful of items with you when you go to cut down your own Christmas tree, but a saw is of the utmost importance.

This Craftsman handsaw will get the job done perfect, or you could opt for one of those cordless mini chain saws.

CRAFTSMAN Hand Saw, 12-Inch Hacksaw

Buy Now: $11.98

The Clothing

This is one you might want to spend some time thinking about. While it’s important to dress appropriately for cold weather, you may want to dress in layers so you can shed a few before you start sawing down your tree. A pair of sunglasses or protective eyewear is a good idea to prevent pieces of wood from getting in your eyes, and some leather gloves will help you grip the tree better for dragging it back to your vehicle.

Mechanix Wear: DuraHide FastFit Leather Work Gloves

Buy Now: $16.85

The Size

Next to the saw, a measuring tape plays the second most important role in cutting down your tree – just ask Clark Griswold.

Before you even leave the house, you should pick a spot where you ultimately want your tree to stand and take plenty of measurements. How tall is the ceiling, how wide does the tree need to be to fit in the corner, etc. And keep in mind a tree will droop slightly once it’s inside and warms up, so make sure you know how much room you have to play with. It might be a good idea to designate somebody as the tape measure holder so you can refer back to your measurements when hunting for the perfect tree.

CRAFTSMAN 25-foot Tape Measure

Buy Now: $13.00

The Cut

Alright it’s time to get to work. Making a proper cut on the tree is essential, because you don’t want to end up with a lopsided tree that’s been cut too short.

Pro tip: take off your coat and lay it on the ground next to the base of the tree. Depending on how full the tree is, you might need to lay on your back or side to make a cut as close to the ground as possible.

Don’t dilly-dally for too long, either, as you want to make the cut as quick as possible to ensure your tree stays fresh and vibrant. When the tree starts to lean to one side, finish your sawing quickly and don’t push it over. This can cause the stump to crack or splinter and your tree won’t appreciate it very much.

The Transport

Bring plenty of ropes or bungee cords to secure the tree to your vehicle. You might also want to throw a tarp over top of it to deter the needles from flying off in the wind while you transport it to your home.

The Stand

The trees final resting place. In my opinion, there’s no need to spend almost a hundred dollars on a Christmas tree stand. So long as it has a place to hold some water and keeps the tree upright, it’s done its job. They have some now that have water level indicators, or others that spin your tree so you can see all sides. Call me old fashion, but there’s nothing wrong with sticking a finger in the bottom of the stand to see if there’s any water, and if you want to see the ENTIRE tree, then walk around and admire it!

Alright, I’ll get off my rocker now. Here’s a perfectly good stand that says holds a 7′ tree and is the best bang for your buck Christmas tree holder:

National Holiday Steel Tree Stand

Buy Now: $26.99

OutdoorHub Editor: Keenan Crow

Keenan Crow is an outdoor writer who graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in journalism and creative writing. He has been writing for OutdoorHub for nearly five years, but anybody he is close with will tell you he has been telling hunting stories for far longer. He uses his experiences outdoors to write about things he loves - bow hunting, fishing, upland hunting, shed hunting, turkey hunting, waterfowl hunting, dog training, shotguns, ATVs and the outdoor lifestyle he lives in his home state of Michigan. Outside of hunting/fishing, he also loves to cook - especially with wild game - play golf and go on hikes with his yellow lab, Stella.