Faux or real? Christmas tree answers

With the Thanksgiving turkey long since gone, East Valley households are turning their attention to the next holiday’s centerpiece: the Christmas tree.

Tree lots have sprung up in parking lots all over town, and artificial tree displays have transformed entire sections of stores into veritable woodlands of plastic and twinkling lights. As you begin your search for the perfect tree — real or fake — take our quiz to learn more about each type.

 Where to find a tree

If you want a real tree, look no further. PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org provides an online list of Arizona tree lots, and no grocery stores or “big-box” retailers are on the list.

Choosing and caring for an artificial tree

• Before you leave home, measure the height and width of the space where you’ll place the tree. Most artificial tree labels clearly state the tree’s height and diameter, making it easy to choose an appropriate size.
• With no concerns about the tree’s freshness to worry about, all you have to consider are looks: size, color, clear lights or multicolored lights, fiber-optic or realistic?
• Place the tree far away from heat sources such as fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, heating vents or candles.
• Unplug the tree lights when you leave home and when you go to sleep for the night.
• When the holidays are over, dismantle the tree and hold each section upside-down so the branches fall toward the center pole. Push the branches against the pole to compress the tree, and wrap each section with twine. Put the tree back into its original box, and store it in a cool, dry place — not the garage or attic.
• Instead of tossing the tree in the trash when you no longer need it, get crafty. Use ribbon and other embellishments to re-purpose the branches into holiday garland or wreaths you can hang throughout your home. If the center pole is made of metal, deliver it to a scrap metal recycler. Or, donate the tree to a school, library, community center, church or charity.