Perfection can be a dangerous thing to strive for - especially when it comes to Christmas trees. Insisting on finding the perfect tree can quickly turn the excitement of a family trip to the local tree farm into bickering and frustration.

“You could spend days looking for the ideal tree,” said John Kopacz, owner of Webster Cranberries farm in Norwell, Mass. “A tree's a living thing, so there's nothing perfect about it.”

An imperfect tree can be perfect in your home, if you keep an open mind. Kopacz said one of the major mistakes people make is not knowing their space limitations before they  buy a tree. Unless a tree will be placed in the center of a room, chances are it doesn't need to be perfectly round.

“A tree that's a little light on one side actually works better in a corner,” he said.

And he reminds customers at his farm that trimming a branch or two won't hurt a tree, and it might make for a better fit.

Webster grows Fraser firs and Canaan firs, which Kopacz said tend to grow well and are “very happy trees.”

Bog Hollow Farm in Kingston, Mass., grows Fraser and balsam fir trees - owner Lydia Mathias said firs hold their needles best - as well as Colorado blue spruces, which have thicker branches and can hold heavier ornaments.

Mathias said the key to making a tree last is keeping it watered. If the tree isn't freshly cut, people should make a new cut at the base of the trunk so that it will absorb water.

“It's like a wound when you cut the tree,” she said. “It heals over.”

She said it is important to have a tree stand that will hold plenty water, and to remember to add water regularly. And she warned that heat could cause the tree to become dry and brittle - despite how nice it may look next to the fireplace.

Patriot Ledger writer Julie Onufrak may be reached at jonufrak@ledger.com.