Trimming the three - Holiday decorating tips

* Remember to add water. Your tree will drink a gallon of water or more in the first 24 hours, and one or more quarts a day thereafter.

Adding lights and ornaments

* Before putting on the strings of lights, test to see if any replacement bulbs are needed. You can string bulbs from the top or the bottom. If you start from the bottom, plug the light cord into the wall socket first. Not only can you see your work, but this will also ensure that you end up with a female end of the light cord on top so you can plug in a tree topper that lights. If you prefer to start at the top of the tree, place the first strand with the female end of the light cord at the top. This is important so you'll have a male end to go into the light socket when you're done. Weave the lights in toward the trunk as well as on the outer reaches of the branches. Wind the light cord around the branches so the cord doesn't show.

* Your garland should produce a nice swag effect. Garland one ring of branches that are all growing at the same height, and then move up or down to the next ring of branches.

* Place small ornaments on the smaller limbs and bigger ornaments on the larger limbs. As with the lights, hang ornaments inside the branches as well as on the ends. Putting bigger ornaments in toward the trunk creates a balanced look.

- Jill Slater

COPYRIGHT 1999 Sunset Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group