Tips and tricks for a long-lasting, healthy Christmas tree

With so many Christmas trees to choose from, we asked University of Alberta forestry student Dan Rosichuk for some tips to help in your search.

Rosichuk says it starts with a light pull on a branch. A healthy tree won't shed its needles - or many, anyways - while an older tree will lose needles easily.

Smell is another indicator of freshness, he adds. If the tree was recently cut, it will still smell like the forest.

Once you're home, there's a couple things you can do to keep that tree healthy.

Rosichuk recommends cutting the base of the trunk off right before you bring it into the house. Then, set it up in a room that's a little humid but not too hot.

Fresh water should be added to the stand every few days.

A healthy tree should last about tree ... er three weeks.