How to Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree
Cutting your own tree takes about an hour at the farm and gives you the freshest tree you can get. Here is how to do it well, from measuring your living room to getting the tree into its stand, based on advice from university extension services and the National Christmas Tree Association.
Before you leave home
Decide where the tree will stand. Pick a spot away from fireplaces, heat vents and radiators, which dry a tree out fast, and close to an outlet so you do not need extension cords for the lights (Michigan State University Extension).
Measure the space. Write down the ceiling height and the width of the spot. Trees look smaller in an open field than they do in your living room, which is the most common way people end up with a tree that is too big (MSU Extension, University of Illinois Extension). Our tree size guide explains how much room to leave for the stand and the topper.
Check the farm's rules. Most choose-and-cut farms lend saws, but some ask you to bring your own, some only take cash, and some require a reservation on busy weekends. Every farm listing on U-Pick Spots shows what we found for that farm.
What to bring
- A tape measure, so you can measure the tree you are about to cut
- Gloves for whoever does the cutting and loading
- Boots or old shoes that can handle mud, and rain gear if the weather looks doubtful
- Rope or straps if you will tie the tree to the car roof, and an old blanket to protect the paint
- Cash, even if the farm takes cards
The National Christmas Tree Association suggests the same basics: comfortable shoes, old clothes, rain gear and gloves (NCTA selection tips). It also advises leaving pets at home or keeping them on a leash the whole time.
How to choose a fresh tree
On a choose-and-cut farm the tree is still alive, so freshness is rarely a problem, but it is still worth a quick check:
- Run a branch gently through your closed hand. A fresh tree keeps its needles.
- Bend an outer branch. It should flex rather than snap.
- A few brown needles falling from the inside of the tree are normal. Dull needles that pull out easily are a warning sign (Penn State Extension).
Walk all the way around the tree before you decide. Most trees have a "best side", and a flat side can go against the wall.
How to cut it down
- Clear the base. Kneel down and push the lowest branches aside so you can see the trunk.
- Leave a handle. Cut close to the ground but leave enough straight trunk to fit your stand (NCTA). Illinois Extension suggests a straight trunk of 6 to 8 inches below the lowest branches (Illinois Extension).
- Saw straight across. Keep the cut level. A second person can tip the tree gently away from the saw so the blade does not bind.
- Let it fall away from people. Call out before the tree comes down.
At the barn: shaking and netting
Take the tree to the farm's processing area. Many farms run it through a shaker to remove loose needles and then pull it through a baler that wraps it in netting, which makes it far easier to carry and to tie onto a car (NCTA). Leave the netting on until the tree is upright in its stand at home, so it stays compact while you carry it in (MSU Extension).
Some farms also drill the trunk for a pin-style stand. With a traditional screw stand, attach the stand before you lift the tree upright, and use two people.
Getting it home and into water
If the tree goes into the stand within a few hours of cutting, it does not need a fresh cut. Penn State Extension says no recut is needed for a tree cut in the past 12 hours (Penn State Extension). If it has to wait, keep it in a cool, shaded spot such as an unheated garage, with the trunk standing in a bucket of water.
Once it is up, fill the stand and check it every day. A fresh tree is thirsty, and our guide to keeping a Christmas tree fresh covers how much water it needs.
Safety
Keep the tree at least three feet from any heat source, make sure it does not block an exit, and turn the lights off when you go to bed or leave home (NFPA winter holiday safety). A well-watered tree is much harder to ignite than a dry one.
Frequently asked questions
Do Christmas tree farms provide saws?
Most choose-and-cut farms lend bow saws at the entrance or out in the field. A few ask you to bring your own, and many do not allow chainsaws. Check the farm's website before you go; each farm listing on U-Pick Spots shows whether saws are provided when the farm says so.
How long does it take to cut down a Christmas tree?
The cutting itself takes a few minutes with a sharp bow saw. Plan on about an hour at the farm in total for walking the fields, choosing, cutting, shaking and netting, and longer on busy weekends or if the farm has hayrides and other activities.
Can I tie a Christmas tree to the roof of my car?
Yes. Ask the farm to net the tree, lay it on the roof with the trunk facing forward, and tie it down through the open doors or to the roof rack, not through closed windows. An old blanket under the tree protects the paint.
Before you go
- Christmas Tree Types: Which Real Tree Should You Choose?Fraser, balsam, Douglas, noble and concolor fir, spruces, pines and cypress compared for scent, needle retention, soft needles and ornament strength.
- How to Keep a Real Christmas Tree FreshHow much water a Christmas tree drinks, when to recut the trunk, why additives don't help and how long a fresh-cut tree lasts, from extension research.
- When to Cut Your Christmas TreeWhen cut-your-own Christmas tree farms open, how long a fresh-cut tree lasts indoors and the best weekend to go for selection and freshness.
- What Size Christmas Tree Do I Need?How to measure your ceiling and floor space for a real Christmas tree, how wide a tree really is, and how much trunk to leave for the stand.
- How Much Does a Real Christmas Tree Cost?What a real Christmas tree costs in the US, what cut-your-own farms charge, and how flat, per-foot and by-size pricing work, with farm price data.