Christmas trees are an essential part of the festive season. If you celebrate Christmas then the chances are you decorate your home, and the tree usually stands at the center of the display.

However, should you go for a real, live Christmas tree then you need to know how to put up, decorate, and look after it properly. Or you may as well just buy an artificial tree and be done with it.

This Howcast video takes you through the basic things you’ll need to do to ensure there are no Christmas disasters when it comes to the tree.

It takes us through the whole process from choosing the right tree for your needs, through picking the spot in your front room, to keeping it well watered to avoid excess droppage.

As with most Howcast videos, there are detailed, step-by-step instructions to accompany the clip. Which you may find easier to follow.