It's time to start decorating for Christmas. Leave that plastic garbage in the garage. This is the year you are going to get a real tree.

#ThisIsTucson Christmas tree shopping tips

• Take the whole family to pick the tree. It has to be one that speaks to each of you. Have a size in mind because a 10-foot Noble fir isn't going to fit in your apartment.

• Don't try to load the tree on the car yourself, get some help from employees or vendors. If not fastened correctly, the tree could fly away while you're driving or land on your mom.

• You'll need a Christmas tree stand. The trees don't balance well on their own. You can find a stand at any home goods store so pop into Home Depot, Lowe's or Costco before or after you purchase your tree because you'll need that stand.

• Real Christmas trees can be the devil sometimes. Remember to water it, cut a few of the branches off the bottom and sweep or vacuum the needles that have fallen around it.

Where to buy them

Brian & Kelly's

Hours: Open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in December.

Locations: Four Tucson locations: Broadway at Rosemont Boulevard; Ft. Lowell Road and Campbell Avenue; Cortaro Road and Thornydale Road; and Stone at the Tucson Mall.

Price range: Spend anywhere from $22 to hundreds of dollars on a tree. Prices for a 6-foot tree average about $40, depending on the type. They accept cash, PayPal and check.

Your favorite place to get pumpkins also has Christmas trees. Choose among any of the four firs they have: Douglas, grand, noble and Nordmann. You can get something small enough to stand on a table or a 14-foot tree to take over your house.

Santa Claus will be there to meet with children. Check their Facebook page for updates.

Buckelew Farm Christmas Trees

Hours: Open from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the week; Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekends.

Locations: Check the locations and directions here.

Price range: Pricing starts at $25 for a tabletop tree.

You probably went to Buckelew Farms for hayrides and pumpkin picking but the trees come to you this time. Pick from four types of firs: Douglas, grand, noble and Nordmann.

Home Depot

Hours: Home Depot at El Con is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

Location: There's a Christmas tree lot at every Tucson Home Depot. Find a store near you here.

Price range: $25 to $134 (depends on size and type of tree).

Just outside of Home Depot is a tree lot with different types of Christmas trees from 3 feet to 10 feet. Go in and find the one that best suits your home. Pay for it with card or cash and they'll help you load it on your car.

The tree lot will be there until Christmas or until they run out of trees.

Costco

Hours: Open at the same time as the Costco warehouse. Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Location: Right by the Costco warehouse.

Price range: The average cost of a Christmas tree is $50.

You have to be a member to purchase a Christmas tree from Costco and they accept cash, debit, credit and check. Get your tree before they sell out.

Lowe's

Hours: The lot is open at the same time as Lowe's. Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Each Lowe's Tucson location has a tree lot outside the garden department.

Price range: Get a 5-foot tree starting at $25 depending on the type or spend $120 for their biggest tree.

Like Home Depot, there's a lot outside of the store to pick up a tree. The lot will be out there until they run out of trees and you can pick between Douglas and Fraser firs. They accept cash, card and check.

Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus

Hours: Open Monday through Thursday from noon to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Location: 75 N. Wilmot Rd. on the northwest corner of Broadway and Wilmot

Price range: Purchase a table-top tree for $27 or a 12-foot tree for $272. They accept cash, card and check.

The nice thing about buying a tree from them is you can choose to have it delivered. Choose any of the four types of firs they have (Douglas Fir, grand Fir, noble Fir, and Nordman Fir) and schedule a delivery time that would work between the two of you. You tree could be delivered as early as the same day.

Where to recycle them after

Recycle your Christmas tree through the City of Tucson's TreeCycle Program from Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 to Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at any of its nine locations around Tucson. That means you have until Jan. 15 to hold onto Christmas spirit.