Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The holiday shopping season is officially underway.

Not only are shoppers looking for the perfect gifts, but many are also out to find the perfect Christmas tree.

Christmas tree lots are setting up shop all across southern Colorado to sell what is likely the centerpiece of many families' holiday decorations. The long-awaited holiday is fewer than a month away, which has many people on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree.

So, what makes the "perfect" tree?

"A very full tree," Jerry Velentin, who purchased a tree at Tittel Trees in Colorado Springs, said. "It has nice room underneath it, and it's nice and high."

At the Tittel Tree lot, located in the K-Mart parking lot at the intersection of Powers Boulevard and Palmer Park Boulevard, full and fresh trees are usually the top sell.

"Noble's are what we sell the most," Taz Green, the lot manager, said. "They are a really nice tree and hold their freshness well. They're sturdy and hold ornaments fairly well."

However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone picks the popular trees.

"Sometimes we pick the one that nobody else is going to buy," Michelle Schubert, who also purchased a tree from Tittel Trees, said.

No matter which tree consumers choose, Green said there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the tree stays fresh through the holiday season.

"The main thing is to keep it away from heater vents," he said. "If you can, keep the temperature in your living room, or wherever you put your tree, cooler if possible. That way your live tree will stay live longer."

Green said it is very important to keep the tree watered. Also, adding ingredients such as bleach or sugar to the water will help prevent the tree's needles from becoming brittle and falling off.

Tittel Trees has sold Christmas trees in Colorado Springs for nearly 40 years. Green said in the time he has managed his location, most trees sell during the week after Thanksgiving. However, he recommended consumers purchase their tree sooner rather than later to ensure they find the "perfect" one.