Tree Decorating, the Wedekind’s way

You've got the cup of spiked eggnog, Handel is thundering away on the stereo, and you've situated the tree with the bad side facing the wall. So, with hope in your heart, and a joyous "Hallelujah!" you dive into the box of Christmas decorations, only to come up with the usual mass of entangled strands of lights. Ugh.

Christmas tree decorating should be a joyous pastime. Unfortunately it can become a chore you'd rather just be done with.

For some Christmas tree decorating inspiration to kick-start your holiday spirit, we checked in with the garden masters at Wedekind's Garden Center.

This season, Wedekind's showroom is resplendent with decorated Christmas trees that will turn any Grinch into a jolly St. Nick. Some are rich with child-like joy, trimmed with wrapped packages and candy canes straight from Santa's workshop;  others are adorned with traditional Yuletide colors of red and green.

"Our pre-decorated trees are for sale," said Wedekind's owner Janet Rule. "But mostly the Christmas trees are a way to display the various types of decorations we offer, and how we show our holiday spirit."   

It's easy to feel intimidated when strolling through Wedekind's showroom, which displays trees decorated by professionals, who plan each design a year in advance.

"Right after Christmas we start thinking about next year," said Art Sinclair, Wedekind's General Manger and Christmas tree designer. "We decorate every tree based on a theme that we hope will give customers ideas. We expected traditional and nature themes would be popular this year, but instead, many are going for large, bold floral enhancements."

Whether you choose a design theme for your tree or just want to spruce up your Christmas decorations this year, here are some of Wedekind's expert tree trimming tips.

Put the lights on first.

Place them deep into the tree. Sinclair advises that if you have clear and colored lights put the clear lights closest to the trunk. And never let the wiring show. 

Many designers say you can never have too many lights. But the trees at Wedekind's don't appear overpowered with a blizzard of radiance. That's because each light strand is carefully twisted around the branches. With patience and dexterity you can do it yourself, but it's good to have an electrical extension with several outlets.

Vary the size of ornaments.

Place the largest in the center, then arrange the smallest on the branch tips. Contrast adds drama, so it's fine to mix-and-match ornaments. "There are no rules when it comes to Christmas tree decorating," said Sinclair. "Don't be afraid of placing new things that will accent your old cherished ornaments."

The newest accents for Christmas tree decorating are sprigs of artificial leaves, mistletoe and ripe clusters of grapes. Wedekind's offers a cornucopia of "natural tree ornaments," themed in this "back to nature" trend.

Avoid the living tree.

Wedekind's sells living trees but according to Sinclair, a living tree can be impractical. A potted fir or pine requires constant watering and can't stay inside longer than two weeks. 

And there are design considerations too. "Our decorated trees are artificial because they give us plenty of negative space," explains Sinclair. "That's the space between the branches. You need that space so ornaments and accents hang properly."

So how do you decorate those chubby trees you find on the lot, the inexpensive ones that resemble more a conical bush than a Christmas tree? According to Sinclair it is very hard.

"Those are Douglas Firs that have been sheared," explained Sinclair. "What you do is use pruning shears to create the negative space between the branches. They don't make the best trees for decorating but they smell great."

A final holiday hint: never decorate a Christmas tree alone. Christmas is a time of good fellowship. If you can't be joined by family or friends, then invite a stranger.  After all, it takes more than two hands to untangle those strands of lights.