The Best Time to Buy a Real Christmas Tree and How to Make It Last Longer, According to an Expert

PEOPLE spoke with an expert about everything you need to know about buying a real Christmas tree this holiday season

If you're hoping to get into the Christmas spirit early, read on.

When it comes to decorating for the holidays, Christmas trees, specifically, are among the highly-debated pieces, especially when considering whether to purchase artificial or real trees. If the latter, timing is key when chopping your tree!

Dave Hicks, Vice President of the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York, tells PEOPLE exclusively that any time "before Thanksgiving" is considered too early to purchase a real Christmas tree and bring it into your home.

Additionally, 72-year-old Hicks — who says he has been "in and out of this business all my life," having gone to forestry school as a kid — says that while timing is important when purchasing a real tree, "it depends on how you take care of it" afterward that matters.

For the best timing to purchase your Christmas tree and tips to make it last longer, per Hicks' suggestions, read on!

Related: A Photographic History of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree

When is the best time to purchase a real Christmas tree?

While many prefer to put up their Christmas trees before Thanksgiving, Hicks tells PEOPLE that any time "before Thanksgiving" is considered "too early" to buy a real tree in comparison to an artificial one.

The "prime time" to snag a real Christmas tree, however, is around "the first to second week in December." Generally speaking, Hicks says "anytime after Thanksgiving Day" until Dec. 25 is the suggested time frame to secure a real tree.

Although Hicks says "it totally depends on when it was cut" and how the how "it was taken care of," real Christmas trees can last anywhere around "three to four weeks."

What is the best real Christmas tree to buy?

While Christmas trees come in all different shapes and sizes, there are also several different varieties — like pine, spruce, cypress — as well. According to Hicks, Fraser firs generally "last longer" and "last the best."

Should I chop my own Christmas tree or buy a pre-cut tree?

Just because you decide to decorate your home with a real Christmas tree doesn't alway mean you're in the ax-wielding spirit to chop one down yourself. If that's the case, Hicks says there are certain factors to inquire before purchasing a pre-cut tree from a farm.

"If you go to the farm where they're selling them, you can be sure that those are really fresh and they probably just [chopped them] two or three days before," Hicks says. "Whereas, when you buy them other places, it's questionable when they were cut."

Hicks reveals that some stores might be selling real Christmas trees that "could have been cut way back at the end of October," which is why he assures that going to a Christmas tree farm is a "pretty safe bet."

If you decide on a pre-cut tree, Hicks says there are additional steps to take for longevity. Although the tree has already been chipped down, he says "you need to take at least a half an inch off" the trunk.

"If it sits any period of time at all before it's put in water, whether you do it yourself or whether you buy one that's already precut, you need to cut at least a half an inch off the bottom so that it will start to take water again," Hicks advises.

Related: The 7 Best Places to Buy Artificial Christmas Trees of 2023

How to tell if a pre-cut Christmas tree is old?

If you're getting a pre-cut tree, there are certain parts of the tree you'll want to inspect beforehand. "Check to see that the needles aren't dry or falling off," Hicks advises first and foremost, before noting that changes won't occur to its branches or trunk.

Some needles might take on a brownish color instead of their beautiful green hue; though, that isn't the case for all Christmas tree varieties. "If you take a Fraser fir, they probably won't turn brown, but they will be dry," Hicks says.

Should I keep my real Christmas tree in sunlight?

Just because a real Christmas tree is a plant, doesn't mean it needs to be in direct sunlight. "That part doesn't make any difference," clarifies Hicks, explaining that it's because the tree has already been chopped down.

How often should I water my real Christmas tree?

Although sunlight won't make a difference to its longevity, Hicks stresses the importance of consistently watering the tree to lengthen its time in your home.

"You don't have to change the water, you just have to make sure that the water never gets below where it's cut off on the trunk," he says. "Because what happens is as soon as that runs out of water, instantaneously it starts to seal off."

"Then it won't take water and then you've got a problem," Hicks continues. "The cure for that is to take all the decorations off, take the tree down, cut the bottom off and start over again — which wouldn't be any fun, but people have done that."

"That's the whole secret," reiterates Hicks. "Not to let it run out of water... ever."

Does sugar water make Christmas trees last longer?

Over the years, many tips and tricks have surfaced to lengthen the lifespan of a real Christmas tree. Users on TikTok, for example, have shared hacks — like feeding your tree with sugar-added boiling water — to help it live as long as possible.

"Everybody's got more wives' tails than you can begin to imagine," says Hicks with a laugh when asked about the sugar water hack. "Some of them say to put aspirin in [the water]!"

Of the tips he personally recommends, Hicks says to use "lukewarm water" the first time you tend to your tree "because that helps melt the sap so that it will take in water better." He emphasizes, "But the whole secret is never letting that water get below the bottom of the trunk."

Related: Popular Christmas Trees from Amazon, Walmart, and More Are Up to 60% Off — Including a Few of Our Favorites

What is the best temperature for a real Christmas tree?

Hicks says the thermostat in your house doesn't have to be set to a specific number, but he notes "cooler temperatures help." But, he explains that he and his family "don't get [their Christmas tree] up until later" in the season due to their busy schedules at the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York. "It'll last for a good three weeks," he says of their family's own tree.

How far should a tree be from a fireplace?

While "cooler temperatures" are recommended for preserving a Christmas tree's longevity, many fear that warmer temperatures will cause it to burst into flames. However, failing to properly water your tree is what can cause a fire to occur.

"If you let it dry out too much," Hicks says "it is" likely for your tree to catch on fire. Though, he says the risk is just as high — if not higher — for fake trees, too!

"Your artificial tree is more dangerous to catch fire from electrical problems with your lighting than a real tree is," Hicks says.

He poses a situation: "If you take a real Christmas tree that hasn't been cut down, do you think you can make that green tree burn? Absolutely not."

"If you keep your tree well hydrated and it doesn't dry out, it's the same program," Hicks explains. "When they burst into flames, somebody hasn't had water on it for weeks." However, he still says it's "only sensible" to still keep them away from fireplaces and heating vents, regardless.

"Whereas an artificial tree, that's oil — and I've seen the artificial trees where the lighting shorted out and they burn... and that's toxic smoke," he continues. "Can an artificial tree burn? It sure can."

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