Whether it is your first time celebrating Christmas or your one hundredth, you may not know how to correctly transport your tree without causing injury. According to an AAA survey, 44 percent of Americans who plan to purchase a real Christmas tree will not transport them safely—and 16 percent of survey respondents say they’ve previously had a Christmas tree fall off or out of their vehicle during transit. So here are a few tips to safely transport your tree and keep it in pristine condition.
Measure Your Car and Your Home
You don’t want to go to the tree farm blind. Before you head out, get an idea of the tree size you can handle. First, measure the height of the room your tree will be going in. Leave at least a foot between the top of the tree and the ceiling for the topper. Depending on how big the area is, you may also want to take note of the width your space can handle. Next, measure the roof of your car and the interior storage area.
Bring a Blanket or a Tarp
Your tree will lose its dislodged needles. If you can catch most of them, then you will have less to clean up later. Most trees are sold in netting. Leave this on to ensure the branches stay tight and bundled. If the trees are not sold in mesh, then the blanket or tarp will come in handy. First, shake the tree to get rid of loose needles. Next, wrap it in the blanket or tarp. This practice will keep your tree safe and keep your car from scratches.
Point Tree in the Correct Direction
Many do not consider the wind damage that can happen on the drive home from the farm. Point the tree so that the stump faces the front of the vehicle.
Use Bungee Cords To Tie Your Car Down
If you have a roof rack, it is easy to tie down your tree. Once you have the tree down, you can use the bungee cord to secure the tree, starting from the branches at the bottom to the top. If you don’t have a roof rack, you will need to take an extra step. First, open all of the car doors, but keep the windows shut. Afterward, tie the tree from trunk to tip as described before. If your tree is longer than the roof of your car, tie a reflective tag to alert other drivers about the tree that is hanging off your bumper.
Let us know your favorite tree transporting tips!