Holiday Experts Agree: This Is the Best Day to Put Up Your Tree

If there's one holiday-related topic that people have strong opinions about, it's when to put up your Christmas tree. It seems like the debate is divided into two camps: Team "before Thanksgiving" and team "after Thanksgiving."

While the decision truly comes down to personal preference, practical factors such as holiday travel, and the kind of tree you put up, there are a few basic guidelines to be aware of. Matt Bowman, founder of Tradition Company, says there are specific timeframes for buying and putting up a live Christmas tree to ensure you find a tree you love and it lasts for as long as possible. To inspire your holiday decorating this season, the Christmas tree expert is sharing his professional take on the great Christmas debate.

How to Decide When to Put Up Your Christmas Tree

When it comes to making choices about when to put up the Christmas tree, Bowman says he tells people to consider their lifestyle. "Families with young children who really want to soak up the magic of Christmas are usually early decorators, but for busy professionals, waiting to get into December is usually the move," he shares.

While an artificial Christmas tree offers more flexibility when it comes to timing, deciding to use a live tree also plays a factor in the timing. "A live Christmas tree is like a cut flower so you definitely need to monitor the tree and water as needed," Bowman says. He reveals that a seven-foot Christmas tree can drink a gallon of water per day, so it is not uncommon to have to water a tree daily for the first week or so that it is in your home.

"Eventually, the tree will reach a point where it isn’t drinking as much but keeping your tree watered and happy is important," Bowman says.

What to Do Before You Put Up a Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree expert says that direct heat and sunlight can have a significant effect on the condition of a live tree, so finding the right spot for it in your home is more important than you may think. "Closing heat vents near the tree and avoiding south-facing windows can lead to it lasting longer," Bowman says.

He points out that it's not just live Christmas trees that can dry out in a few weeks—wreaths and garlands made of fresh greenery can dry out equally as fast in homes that get direct, south-facing sunlight. "We usually wait to install live decor for these clients until the second week in December, so the greenery stays fresh through Christmas," Bowman shares.

He adds that greenery such as western Red Cedar and Magnolia leaves are an excellent choice for outdoor areas that face south, plus they maintain their color even if they get a little dry.

What Is the Best Day or Week to Put Up Your Christmas Tree?

Bowman shares that they open their retail Christmas tree lots on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. "Many families take the Thanksgiving holiday to go ahead and get Christmas ready as families come in from out of town and decorating is a fun activity for everyone," he shares.

However, if you are traveling over Thanksgiving, Bowman says it doesn't make sense to get a real Christmas tree and put it up before you leave for the holiday. "This consideration isn’t an issue if you use artificial trees, so getting your faux tree up is really just up to you and your calendar," he explains.

If you are planning on putting up a real tree, Bowman shares a specific date by which you should absolutely have your tree. "We recommend finding your tree before December 10th, as inventories tend to slim down around this time and finding the perfect tree might be a challenge after the second weekend in December."

This year, Bowman specifically recommends buying early if you are looking for a big tree that's nine feet or taller, as they will likely be in short supply. "I think there will be plenty of trees in the five-foot to eight-foot sizes, but bigger trees are going to be scarce," he shares.