How to Secure a Fresh Christmas Tree to the Top of Your Car

Knowing how to tie down a Christmas tree is essential for anyone who buys a real tree each year. Driving a car with a Christmas tree on top is always a little nerve-wracking, but it's easier when you know it is really secure. Getting your live Christmas tree home without a roadside disaster is a big relief. And your tree will still be in perfect condition when you get home—no broken branches in sight.

Before you head to the Christmas tree farm to pick the perfect tree, make sure you have everything you're going to need for a safe trip home.

• Bring work gloves to protect your hands.
• Bring a tarp or old blanket to put under the tree. Even if the tree is wrapped in netting and you have a roof rack, sticky sap and needles will fall during transport and may damage your car's paint job.
• Bring nylon ratchet straps, strong rope or bungee cords for the actual tree tie-down; twine is too flimsy and breakable.
• If you're a shorter person with a tall car, you might also want to stick a step stool in the car in case you need some extra height.

Once you find the perfect tree and the tree lot has wrapped it in netting, you're ready to get it onto the top of your car.

Spread the tarp or blanket across the top of the car. Make sure the car top is completely covered so the paint job is protected, but that none of the blanket or tarp hangs down to block the driver's view through the windshields or windows.

Lift one end of the tree while your helper lifts the other and maneuver it on top of the car. The trunk of the tree should always be at the front of the car, facing into the wind as you drive home. This positioning minimizes wind damage to protect the needles and branches from being blown away.

‌If the car has a roof rack:‌ Knot your rope or tie-down strap around the rack at the front of the vehicle. Throw it over the trunk of the tree just above the bottom branches and wrap the rope or strap all the way around the trunk before tying it to the roof rack on the other side of the car. Looping the strap around the trunk like this keeps the tree from moving side to side as you drive. Repeat this process to secure straps across the middle and top of the tree; only the front strap has to be looped around the trunk of the tree.

‌If the car doesn't have a roof rack:‌ Open all four car doors. Instead of tying the rope or strap to the rack, you'll feed it through the open car and knot it around itself to keep the tree in place. Again, loop the front rope around the trunk above the bottom branches before tying it in place.

Because an improper tree tie-down could cause a dangerous accident while you're driving home, you really can't be too careful about driving a car with a Christmas tree on top. Double-check your work before leaving the lot. Give the tree a few hard tugs from several different angles to make sure it doesn't budge. You may even want to ask a tree lot employee to check your ties. These workers help people secure trees to their cars every day and should be able to tell you if you're good to go.

There are plenty of good ways to make this holiday season a memorable one. Just don't make it "the year of the Christmas tree disaster." Use the right tie-down methods and triple-check that it's secure before heading home to set up the tree and decorate.