Tutorials are cool, but they’re always so long and everything is always going too smoothly. Meanwhile, in the world of Allyn and Shaun, nothing ever goes according to plan (but we have been making an effort to and are doing a better job of just rolling with it!). Since cutting down your own Christmas tree might seem like an intimidating adventure, this week’s vlog is a “how to” tutorial, filmed by real people at a who don’t totally know what they’re doing, but are doing it anyway (aka, me and Shaun). It really is worth it to have the experience of picking and cutting your own tree. We hope this encourages you to make these kind of memories for you and your fam at a christmas tree farm near you!
Without further ado, here’s the gist of how cutting your own Christmas tree works.
1.) Pick what kind of tree you want or what you’re looking for in a tree and what your budget is.
We wanted something on the cheaper side that also had sturdy branches so that our ornaments won’t fall off… I have a lot of really special ones that are from my dad and grandpa, so they’re very old and I need to know they’re safe!
2.) Pick which farm you want to go to.
They all have different types of trees, so if you’re looking for something specific, make sure the farm you’re considering has it. We decided on Grupp’s Christmas Trees because they had affordable Scotch Pines, the landscape was picturesque, and also they tie the tree on your car for you! Tree farms also have odd hours so make sure to check that they’re open before you head out.
3.) What to bring:
Gloves: Not fashionable ones you care about, just something to protect your hands from sap and prickly needles.
Cash: We noticed most farms only accept cash or checks, so leave time to stop by the ATM on your way!.
Tree supplies: Most farms do have saws for you to use while you’re there, but it doesn’t hurt to double check. Some farms provide the string to tie it on your car and others don’t, so check on that first.
4.) Determine any additional criteria
I think it’s helpful to have an idea of what you’re looking for, so think about things like height, size, etc. Our house is small so we knew we needed a tree that was a little thinner. Also, as visual people, symmetry is important to us!
5.) Grab a saw, scout the grounds, and pick the winner!
Take a photo with it, obviously.
6.) Cut it down (I’ll turn this over to Shaun because I wasn’t much help)
The most important part of this step is safety. If you’re like me, you don’t use a bow saw very often, so it’s best to use caution. You’ll want to cut off the small branches at the bottom of the trunk to make it easier to access. Once you have a clear path, start with small strokes to get the blade started into the tree. After that, just keep cutting back and forth until you’re all the way through. It’s also a good idea to have someone around to hold the top of the tree when you finish cutting so that it doesn’t topple over on top of you!
7.) Wrapping things up
You’ll either need to carry it over to where they bail it, or some farms provide a cart for you to wheel the tree around on. You’ll pay for it and then tie it onto your car, unless you’re lucky enough to find somewhere where they do that part for you! We also always grab a disposable Christmas Tree bag. However, while they are functional, let it be known that they are not visually appealing. If you plan to put your tree skirt on top of it, make sure it has a hole in the center! The skirt we have (which has Tigger on it and I’ve had it since I was like 5, hahaha) does not have a hole in the center, which creates a squabble we disagree about every year. I think we should just save the bag and put it over the tree when we’re ready to get rid of it. Shaun – who won this year – believes it needs to go under the tree (in between the tree and the tree stand). So if you see any pretty tree skirts with holes in the center, please link them for me in the comments!
Well, that’s about it! Personally, I love the experience of going to cut down the tree ourselves. Of course we had some bumps in the road along the way, but if we can do it, so can you. It was even less money than the precut tree we got last year!
What’s your tree situation? Do you cut your own, buy one already cut, or stick to an artificial one? Share with us below!
