Picking out a simple Christmas tree fence or collar can make it practical to set up a real tree that toddlers and puppies can enjoy. A little fence won’t stop anyone from munching on pine needles entirely, but it will make playtime near the tree a lot easier to supervise.

There are a few pre-made options that are easy to buy. Or, you can get inspired and make your own using a pre-made option as a how-to guide.

Figuring out how much Christmas tree fence you need

Before shopping, you need to find a couple dimensions. First, you need to choose the height of your Christmas tree fence or collar. For a puppy, you’ll want a fence high enough that they’re not likely to try to jump over it. For a baby, you’ll want a fence that’s about a foot tall.

Second, you’ll need to measure the desired circumference of your Christmas tree fence or collar. One way to do this is to take your tree skirt, place the skirt on a tree stand, and use a measuring tape to make a circle around the skirt. Or, as a rule of thumb, you can estimate that you’ll need about 2 feet of fencing for every 1-foot of tree height.

This year, I got a 7-foot tree and used a 12-foot fence that is 16 inches high.

Finding a Christmas tree fence or collar

The best places to shop for a Christmas tree fence or collar are home improvement stores. You’ll need to decide if you want plastic or wood, and, whether you want something that is painted or natural.

While wood fencing will provide a more classic appearance to your Christmas tree, plastic options make a wider range of aesthetic enhancements available. Wood fences are usually plainer and assembled with hinges. Plastic options may include intricate decorative details such as snowflake carvings and can be assembled in a continuous circle.

The fence in the photo is made of 1-foot-wide wood panels assembled with hinges. While I bought the fence pre-made, you could make a similar fence in a week or two without any power tools.

Find more resources for home decor here.