In 2012, we took our top four stands to Adams Nurseries in Lancaster, New York, where the staff members generously loaned us a pair of trees to set up and take down. Easy to decorate and even easier to maintain, the pot-grown tree is a brilliant way to bring a festive feeling to your garden. The gauge that tells you how much water is in the stand also has a very clear “Stop” indicator that shows when you’ve filled it enough. There are a whole host of fashionable stands in metal or wood and stunning designer Scandi-style stands that look like a decoration all of their own.

We tested the Krinner on two trees: a 6-foot-8 tree, which we put up unassisted, and a bigger 8-foot-4 tree, which was easier with a second person. Setting up a tree from a standing position and not having any bolts to tighten are pretty radical improvements on the traditional method. Debi liked that the Krinner was “very solid” but said that the 18-pound weight made it, “a bit cumbersome” moving it up and down the stairs when taking it out and putting it away for the season.It has a narrow opening for the water basin, which makes adding water a challenge but also prevents the skirt from getting wet. The Tree Genie Steel is all metal and has tubular legs, and the wooden Kopenhagen has a sleek nordic design. The KRINNER Green Line Comfort Grip M Christmas Tree stand is made in Germany in a sustainable and resource-saving manner out of 100% recycled raw material and thus actively contributes to the responsible use of our environment.

I’m not sure why the manufacturers don’t just include a secure locking mechanism with the product itself. Your tree becomes the centrepiece of any room during the festive period so it's important to make sure it's supported, and safe around your curious little ones and all your impressed guests who might want to take a closer look. Just place your tree in the open stand and pump the foot pedal until the claws have firm contact to the trunk, and you're ready to start decorating! Some Christmas tree stands are designed to optimise your tree’s survival and reduce your own stress of getting poked by wonky tree needles.Using a force gauge (a simple cylinder with a calibrated spring), we pulled on each tree to see how much force was required to make it tip over. All these potted Christmas tree varieties are average or low shedding, meaning they’ll retain their waxy soft needles throughout the season.

Our sustainable firewood is sourced from managed woodlands within a 5 mile radius of Cirencester and is Ready to Burn Certified so has a moisture content below 20%. The patented safety belt with its step by step ratchet mechanism provides additional safety when readjusting, so that the tree will not fall over. THE best Christmas tree stands are designed to keep your tree secure and stable – and these days, you can find ones that look good, too. Last, this stand is quite large; if you’re planning on getting a smaller tree, you can step down to the Cinco C-148E.This is a huge distinction between the Krinner and almost all other stands, which force you to get down on your belly to tighten individual bolts.