NORTH COUNTY - Don't pick out a Christmas tree solely on its looks, area tree vendors say.

The smell, strength, longevity and health of a tree can be just as important when finding the right holiday plant to adorn one's home, vendors said this week as they prepared to open for business Friday.

The day after Thanksgiving is the traditional kickoff to the tree-buying season leading up to Dec. 25, and thousands of trees have been trucked in from the Northwest or grown locally in preparation for the Christmas season.

At Campbell Christmas Trees in Vista, which is one of the few North County tree vendors to open before Friday, a few families already had bought their trees this week, owner Gary Campbell said Wednesday.

Bonnie and John Cagigas of Murrieta and their two young daughters picked out an 8-foot Nordmann fir Wednesday morning at Campbell's lot, where they said they have bought their Christmas trees for the last 13 years.

"We like tall," Bonnie Cagigas said. "It has to be at least 8 feet, and it has to be nice, big and round."

The Nordmann fir the family had chosen is the best kind for anyone wanting a tree that can last six weeks or more, Campbell said.

"They're a more hardy tree and they last a lot longer," said Campbell, who has sold trees from his Oregon farm for 37 years.

The 400 to 500 trees Campbell said he has on his lot also include Douglas, Noble, Grand and Fraser firs.

Campbell said each type of tree is a little different. While the Nordmann lasts the longest, the Douglas has the strongest fragrance, he said.

But Vickie Christian, owner of Pine Tree Acres in Ramona, said she prefers the Monterey Pines she sells at her farm, which are great for decorating.

"It has strong branches and a nice fragrance," she said.

In the search for a perfect tree, buyers have two main options. They can buy pre-cut trees such as those sold at Campbell's and other lots, or they can find a tree and cut it down themselves at one of several tree farms in the area.

Some vendors of both pre-cut and live trees also sell potted trees, as well as tree stands, water buckets and decorations such as wreaths.

Christian and her husband, Fred, have sold trees at their farm for more than 20 years and expect to sell about 1,000 this year, she said. Some people prefer trekking under the branches of the farm and doing the work of taking down a tree themselves, she said.

"I think because it's a nice family activity, and also it makes for a Christmas tradition," said Christian, who noted that her farm also will have hayrides, cookie and ornament decorating, children's games, hot cider and other activities on the weekends.

Other North County live-tree farms are Mission Pines in Fallbrook and Highland Valley Christmas Tree Farm in Ramona.

For those who prefer to let someone else do the lumberjack's work, area Christmas tree vendors have a few more recommendations on the selection and care of a tree.

"Make sure that it's fresh when you buy it, because you're not going to take it home and make it fresher," said Norm Osborne, owner of Pinery Christmas Trees, which sells trees in Escondido and Rancho Bernardo. "Make sure it's standing in water, and make sure the needles aren't falling off."

Dry trees won't last long, he said.

"If they (tree shoppers) grab onto a branch and pull on it, the needles should not come off in their hand," Osborne said.

Campbell also said that placement of a tree is important. If put near a large window, a fireplace or heating vents, the tree can dry out quickly, he said.

If the tree is going to be put near a fireplace, Campbell would recommend having it coated with fire retardant, a service that he and many other vendors offer. This safety precaution is a legal requirement for trees that will be placed in businesses, churches or other public places, but isn't necessary for most residential Christmas trees so long as their water buckets are kept full, he said.

"Find the tree that you want, and you have to make sure that the tree is in water," Campbell said. "Anything that's green, it drinks water all day long."

- Contact staff writer Paul Eakins at (760) 740-5420 or peakins@nctimes.com.

Christmas tree shopping

The following North County Christmas tree vendors all open Friday, except where noted.

VISTA

• Elias Christmas Trees - Pre-cut trees; 1947 E. Vista Way; (760) 758-1507.

• Campbell Christmas Trees - Pre-cut trees; 707 W. Vista Way; (760) 726-4744. Open today.

FALLBROOK

• Mission Pines - Choose and cut live trees; 4062 S. Mission Road; (760) 728-5262.

RAMONA

• Mountain Valley Ranch Pumpkin Patch - Pre-cut trees; 842 Highway 78; (760) 788-8703.

• Pine Tree Acres - Choose and cut live trees; 620 Haverford Road; (760) 788-5524.

• Highland Valley Christmas Tree Farm - Choose and cut live trees; 18425 Highland Valley Road; (760) 789-0114.

DEL MAR

• ABC Tree Farms - Pre-cut trees; located in the main parking lot of the Del Mar Fairgrounds on the west side of Jimmy Durante Boulevard.

• Del Mar Christmas Trees - Pre-cut trees; located in the east lot of the Del Mar Fairgrounds on the east side of Jimmy Durante Boulevard.

• Evergreen Nurseries - Pre-cut trees; 13650 Carmel Valley Road; (858) 481-0622.

OCEANSIDE

• Evergreen Nurseries - Pre-cut trees; 3231 Oceanside Blvd.; (760) 754-0340.

RANCHO BERNARDO

• Evergreen Nurseries - Pre-cut trees; 12460 Highland Valley Road; (858) 485-7867.

• Pinery Christmas Trees - Pre-cut trees; 13421 Highland Valley Road; (858) 487-5128.

ESCONDIDO

• Pinery Christmas Trees - Pre-cut trees; 272 E. Via Rancho Parkway in the parking lot of the Westfield North County mall; (760) 480-8149.