Was last year's Christmas tree almost barren of needles by the time you got it home? Here's how to buy and care for a tree, so it that it won't become needle-free. It starts with picking the right kind of tree, as some last longer than others. In our own household tests, we found two out of five lasted best. Which two? At our house, the balsam fir was the winner. After weeks -- with great pine scent aroma -- its sturdy ornament-filled branches didn't droop. And, it shed the fewest needles. A close second was the Douglas fir -- for the same reasons. Here's what to look for -- lots that keep trees in water and mist them at night and that display them under sun shades. Also, when you get your tree home, always trim another half inch off the trunk. If it's been sitting cut for a week or two, a fresh cut allows re-hydrating up to 98 percent of its normal moisture.