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If you have the means, cut a fresh chunk off the bottom to give the tree a clean surface to drink from and keep it well watered at all times!

Home Depot always has offered a fresh cut, they take about 2" off the bottom. Just make sure to water!

I want to go after thanksgiving since it's the only full weekend we have together! We usually go for the noble fir.

We'll get ours this weekend from a local nursery. Fresh cut makes all the difference!

@irene: We also get ours at Home Depot and they always cut the bottom for us. Make sure you water it every day so it lasts! Especially when you first bring it home, those trees need tons of water! We get ours the first weekend of December.

Saturday!!! I'm so excited!!

@irene: a few people here said they were going to Home Depot this weekend!

You'll be fine if you get a precut tree this weekend. Just water. And expect some needles to be falling. But it's worth the clean up for the amazing smell.

We always buy it Thanksgiving weekend if not from the farm, then Home Depot.

@irene: We buy the cheapest tree available and search for the shortest one (6 ft or shorter). We've bought nicer ones in the past, and honestly the cheap ones are better overall. It may not be as lush, but you can't tell once you put up the decorations.

Wait a few days to see if the tree drinks the water. I usually don't notice a difference until morning time. I have better luck at home improvement stores with getting a clean, even cut. Even so, we occasionally have to cut it at home to make sure it fits nicely on our stand. While it's a pain, it can be done with a saw.

@irene: Did you end up getting your tree? I think as long as you cut off about an inch from the base before you put it in your stand and keep it watered, you'll be fine.

We got a pre-cut tree on Saturday. Chopped off an inch from the bottom and have been watering it like crazy. It drinks a LOT in the first couple days!

@irene: I mean, maybe your tree stand holds a ton more water than mine, so maybe it's fine. The fact that it's drinking is a good sign though.

@irene: Did you have the bottom cut off before you put it in your stand?

@irene: An inch is fine and normal, so don't worry! That's what we did too. I think as long as your tree IS drinking, you're probably fine. Just keep monitoring it.

@irene: this is why I get a fake tree!

I have tried real trees in the past, but the air tends to be so dry (forced air heat) that no matter what we did, the tree would be so dry and crackly.

I did read that you might have more luck in keeping the needles on if you put in karo syrup, bleach and epsom salts in the water...you can find tons of stuff online about it.