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Christmas Tree Stands
Perhaps the most difficult job at Christmas
time is getting the tree into a stand that
will keep it standing straight and secure
throughout the holiday season. No one wants
a crashing tree to break precious ornaments,
damage furniture, or perhaps even start a
fire.
The right tree stand can take the frustration
out of this task. Tree stands are made in
a wide variety of styles and sizes. It is
important to buy the right kind of stand
for the type of tree you have as there is
a significant difference between stands made
for artificial trees and those made for real trees. Always check
to make sure the stand you are buying can
securely hold the size tree you want to put
in it.
When shopping for a tree stand, consider
the following:
- Stands for artificial trees are generally smaller and less expensive
than those made for real trees because they
do not need a water reservoir. Usually, these
stands consist of a central holder for the
tree pole supported by several legs that
span out in a circle to hold the tree steady.
Larger trees will need a larger circle radius.
- Artificial trees can also sit in stands that will rotate
them 360 degrees for a more dramatic decorative
effect. It is important to check the height
of your tree and the diameter of your tree
pole before buying a rotating stand to make
sure the stand will support the tree properly.
Some rotating models have handy additional
electric plug-in outlets for the tree lights.
Look for stands made from heavy duty flexible
poly vinyl.
- Tree stands for real trees are only safe
if they have a reservoir for water. It is
important to be able to easily refill the
reservoir if you plan to have your tree up
for more than a few days. The larger the
water reservoir, the less frequently you
will have to refill it. Some convenient tree
stands have an attached, removable plastic
jug with a handle for easy refilling. Another
convenient feature allows you to remove leftover
water from the stand before taking down the
tree -- a great help in reducing mess.
- Most stands for real trees hold the tree
steady by bolts that force spikes into the
base of the tree. While this secures the
tree, it is difficult (especially for one
person) to get the tree both secure and standing
up straight. Look for tree stands allow you
to adjust the angle of the tree through mechanisms
such as swivels and foot pedals.
- Stands that have plastic padding on the bottom
are important for preventing scratching the
floor unless you are putting the tree on
a rug or carpet..
Because most home trees are under 10 feet
tall, stands for taller trees can be hard
to find. You may need to search the internet,
where you can find stands that can hold up
to 20 foot trees. |
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