If You Can, Fresh-Cut Is the Way to Go.

• Position: CHRISTMAS TREES

Did you know Americans buy more than 26,000,000 live Christmas trees each year to the tune of about $2,000,000,000? Scott Diffenderfer, arborist at Trees.com, provides tips on purchasing and preserving your Christmas tree this holiday season. What should people look for when buying a "real" Christmas tree?

"The fresher the better. It's important to be sure your tree is fresh-cut. If possible, go to a 'cut your own' Christmas tree farm. If you get a tree delivered or shipped to your home, try to find out if it's sent as soon as it's cut. You do not want a tree that's been cut two or three weeks before you buy it. Freshcut trees will last longer and provide an aroma that adds to your Christmas pleasure."

What kind of tree should I buy? "There is a top 10 list for everything and Christmas trees are no exception. Short, stout needles and sturdy branches are perfect when you are hanging decorations. Trees such as balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, white spruce, Norway spruce, and Scots pine are tried and true selections.

If you prefer a softer-needled tree, the white pine is a good choice, but keep in mind this is a softer tree and the needles are not as sturdy as those previously mentioned, as the limbs tend to bend or 'weep' when weighted down. Something else to note--white pine is not as aromatic as the other trees.

What other tips do you have for tree care? 'The single most important consideration for the care and longevity of your tree is water. The second and third most important tips are water, too. When you get your tree home, cut a few inches of the trunk off and get it in the stand as soon as possible. Keeping the vascular system open is the only way water will get into the tree, and if you let the water dry up, these bundles will close, and the water will stop moving into the tree.

"Check the tree daily by bending...