When should you buy a real Christmas tree?
Soon after the trees arriveThere's no official date, but a tree bought soon after it reaches the lot is usually the freshest, since it was cut recently. Many lots open around Thanksgiving, and a tree bought that weekend, November 27 to 29 in 2026, has four weeks to reach Christmas. Waiting too long means fewer good trees to choose from.
Your Christmas tree
How long does a real Christmas tree last? 
How much water does a Christmas tree need? 
Should you put anything in Christmas tree water? 
How can you tell if a Christmas tree is fresh? 
When should you take down your Christmas tree? 
What do you do with a real Christmas tree after Christmas? - Can I buy early and keep it outside?
- Yes. Cut an inch off the trunk, stand it in a bucket of water in an unheated garage out of the wind, and cut it fresh again when it comes inside.
- Is a farm tree fresher than a lot tree?
- Cutting your own means you know exactly when it was cut. A lot tree may have been cut weeks earlier, so check it with your hand before you pay.
See the whole Christmas Checklist
Last checked Monday, November 9, from the National Christmas Tree Association and University of Illinois Extension.
From our shop Tartan tree hoodie It gets cold by the second hour on the lot. Our tartan tree hoodie has a big front pocket for the twine. 
