At Christmas, there are so many choices and decisions to be made regarding the tree: Real or artificial? Cut or balled? Long or short needles? And more.

Without information, you may not be satisfied with your purchase.

It looks great when you first purchase it, but it takes on a different look once it gets into your home based on the size of your home, lighting and decorative ornaments.

No matter what decision you come to, you want the best, most beautiful tree to help celebrate.

Cut trees need water often to be safe and to keep their needles. Balled trees (live trees with roots still intact) need watering as well, in addition to a place to keep them throughout the winter months until it is safe to plant them back outside.

Both cut and balled will have needle shedding issues. Artificial trees will need storage after the holiday, and many times shed their needles as they age (years, not days or weeks.)

There are 20 evergreen trees which are suitable for use as live Christmas trees, but I will simply discuss the BEST ones.

First, the pines. Austrian pines have long dark green needles 4 to 6 inches long which are quite fragrant. The needles of red pine are 4 to 6 inches long and are quite fragrant as well — plus the branches are busy.

White pine has soft blue-green 2-to-5-inch needles that are wispy, making them one of the most difficult types of trees to use for hanging ornaments. These have very little scent.

Scots or Scotch pine is the most common cut tree, with stiff dark green needles that are very aromatic.

The firs are considered the top choice of Christmas trees due to their needle coloration, ability to hold ornaments, pleasant but not overwhelming scents, and their ability to keep needles intact during the holidays (with proper watering).

Balsam firs have 1-inch short, flat grey-green needles with a silver cast. Frasier firs have dark green flat needles a half to 1-inch long with a pyramid shape, and good aroma.

The noble fir is the top choice with 1-inch, blue-green, silvery needles on stiff branches.

Last, the spruces are blue spruce with dark green and powder blue, stiff, 1 1/2-inch needles. Norway spruce has 1-inch, shiny, dark green needles and a strong fragrance. They are also a high contender for the top choice of homeowners.

Whether before Christmas, real or artificial, balled or cut, or after Christmas to take advantage of after-Christmas sales, your choice of your personal Christmas tree is the centerpiece of your holiday. It is a family choice, made with your home in mind. This decision is fun and exciting, as well as practical. Enjoy your holidays.

For tips on choosing a tree, visit http://go.osu.edu/arealtree.

For details on watering your live tree, visit http://go.osu.edu/waterthetree.

Hughes is a Master Gardener Volunteer for The Ohio State University Extension in Mahoning County.