A fragile, stunted, needleless tree might be appealing in the animated Christmas cartoon special you watch every year, but in reality, nobody wants an ugly tree.You know the scenario, you buy your tree beside the road or in some back lot. You make the youth running the joint cut the strings on two trees to get a look, but then he starts putting on attitude and clicking his tongue. So you just pick a bundled number and drive off. You get home and find you have a tree that would make cartoon character Charlie Brown weep with misery. Here are some tips for picking the perfect Christmas tree:1. Do your research. Ask around about what types of trees are being sold. The balsam fir tree is probably the most common, but there are some people who bring in other types such as a Fraser Fir which has slightly bluish tinge to it. Have a look at what those trees look like online. Most of our trees come from Canada, but some come from places such as North Carolina. Ask if they will already have been sheered before importation.2. Plan ahead. There are many places where you can order the tree of your dreams several weeks or months ahead of time. Some Christmas tree importers on the Island actually send inspectors to the Christmas tree lot overseas so that they have better control over what is being brought to the Island.3. Think your situation through. Where will your tree be placed in the house? Get an accurate measurement of the height of your ceiling. This will determine the size of your desired tree. There is no point in buying a 9ft tree if you only have a 7ft ceiling unless you enjoy sawing. Measure not only the height of your ceiling, but also the width of space you have to work with. You also want to decide how much space you want between the top of the tree and the ceiling. If you have a really tall angel to place up there, you might want to drop the size of your tree a bit. You might also consider the space between branches. A thick tree is lovely, but you still need space for your ornaments to dangle.4. Go prepared. Take a tape measure with you to the Christmas tree lot so you can measure the tree you are buying. You might also want to take thick gloves that will allow you to handle the tree more easily. Also, bring some twine or rope, as you might need to tie the tree down for transportation.5. Make a full inspection. Insist that the person selling your tree cut the strings and open up the tree so you can get a good look at it. Don’t buy your tree sight unseen. A good Christmas tree seller will have tools on hand and be able to trim your tree to suit your specifications. A fresh, healthy tree should have shiny, green needles. The tree has to last for a month in your house, after all. If you shake the tree and there’s a shower of needles, what’s the situation going to be 30 days from now?6. Water your tree. Make sure there is a good cut on the bottom of the stump and then put the tree in a bucket of water right away to keep it fresh.7. Erect your tree in the right place. When you put up your tree don’t erect it in direct sunlight as this will cause it to go brown, faster. Also don’t put it near heat sources such as the fireplace (assuming a fire will be lit) or a heater as it can be a fire hazard.8. Invest in a good Christmas tree stand. If you are getting a very tall, heavy tree, you will need a sturdy stand to cope with that. How many people have put up their tree, decorated it with beautiful crystal ornaments their grandmother left them, only to come home and find the tree tipped over and glass everywhere? On the subject of toppled trees and broken ornaments, try to keep your pets out of the room. Christmas trees and pets don’t mix very well. Barricade the room with a safety gate if you can.