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"  The Prep Before you even head out your door, there are some important things for you to consider. First of all is size. Do you want a big tree or a small one? How tall of a tree can fit in the space you&amp;#039;ve chosen? Don&amp;#039;t eyeball it\u2014a tree looks smaller out in the woods than it will in your living room. Take some measurements ahead of time so you can keep the maximum circumference, trunk diameter, and height. Do some research into the different types of trees and which ones make the best Christmas trees. Next are the legalities\u2014you can&amp;#039;t just cut down any tree you see, of course. Be sure to check with your municipal, county, or state government about Christmas tree-cutting permits and where you are allowed to cut. The USDA Forest Service is responsible for tree-cutting permits in national forests. You can also play it safe and just go to one of the many Christmas tree farms out there. While this option is easier, it is definitely expensive, with trees costing upward of $40 each. Finally, make sure you take the right tools. You should have a thick pair of gloves, some kind of cutting device (an ax or bucksaw should suffice in most cases), and a means of getting your tree home, such as a truck or some bungee cords to strap it to the roof of your car. Handling evergreen trees can be a messy business and can leave you or your vehicle coated in sticky sap, so bring a tarp in which to wrap the tree. The Cut You&amp;#039;ve found the perfect tree that matches your measurements. Now it&amp;#039;s time to chop or saw it down and take it home.  Before you get chopping, make sure to leave the tree a foot or two longer than you need it in case you want to trim the bottom branches when you get it home. Your tree will most likely fall to the side on which you are cutting, so make sure there is no one in its path and nothing that could be damaged by the fall. Use your ax or saw to cut through the tree on a slight angle, then push it over onto the ground when it&amp;#039;s nearly cut through. Be warned: Cutting a big tree is harder work that it appears. Next, have a family member help carry the tree to your car and store it securely for the trip home. Once you get it home, brush off as much snow as you can, if applicable, then put the tree somewhere warm and dry overnight to melt off any remaining snow. The Care After your tree is dry, trim the bottom of the trunk on a slight angle using a saw. Make at least an inch-wide cut to expose a fresh part of the trunk that will take up water more readily. Use a stand that can hold a large amount of water\u2014preferably at least a gallon. Mount the tree in your stand and steady it using the fasteners. You may need to use additional guy lines anchored to your wall to make sure your tree won&amp;#039;t fall over. Be sure to water your tree regularly, and don&amp;#039;t let it run out of water. After the Holidays If you care for your tree, it can last as long as five weeks in your home, but be sure to take it down before it dries out because it can become a fire hazard and leave a mess of needles in your living room. Many towns and cities offer an old Christmas tree pickup service or provide locations where you can take your old Christmas tree to be disposed of. Cutting down your own Christmas tree can be fun and rewarding if you have the right tools and a plan in place. Once you get the hang of it, you can make it a holiday tradition that gets the whole family involved. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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