To ensure the claws remain in tension, you slide the red button to hold them in place and voila, your tree is ready for trimming. (A variant of our pick, the Krinner Tree Genie XXL Deluxe, rings a little bell like an old timey caroler to let you know when the tree is firmly in place.) And you can lock the mechanism in place with a small padlock or bolt for extra security from, say, a curious toddler or a particularly tenacious pet who might shift the release and knock your tree trunk loose.
