Between six and eight million real Christmas trees are sold in the UK every year, and for many people, buying a Christmas tree kicks off the start of the festive period. At Dobbies Garden Centres, thousands of real and artificial trees are purchased across the UK during the four weeks before Christmas, but how many of us have got home only to find that the tree is too tall for the room, or worse, has blocked the vacuum cleaner with fallen needles by Christmas Day?
Christmas on Female First
Craig Roman, Dobbies' Christmas tree expert, recommends his five top tips on choosing and caring for your real Christmas tree:
1. Understand the tree
In the UK, you'll only really have four choices of real Christmas tree to choose from. First up is the Norway Spruce; it's heralded as the traditional Christmas tree with its lovely pyramid shape, dark green foliage and rich festive scent. The drawback with this type is that the needles are quite sharp and they're inclined to fall more than other fresh varieties if not cared for properly.
Your second option, and by far the most popular, is the Nordmann Fir. It's dark green glossy foliage and soft leaves are best dressed in fewer decorations, making it ideal for minimalist-style homes. It also has the ability to hold onto its needles right up to Christmas.
If, however, you prefer a narrower tree for a smaller space, the Fraser Fir is the one for you. It has a blue green colour and dense foliage - not ideal for heavy-bauble lovers, but lovely if you want tinsel, lights and a sprinkling of hanging decorations.
Finally there is the Noble Fir. This one is thick stemmed, which means its slightly trickier to secure in its stand, but it boasts better spaced foliage for all your baubles and decorations!
Of course you could always decide on an artificial tree, and if that's the case, there are lots of stunning varieties to choose from. Many of Dobbies premium artificial trees could even pass for being freshly cut.
Artificial trees vary from snow-tipped and pre-lit to those that are decorated with cones and berries. There are so many options, you're sure to find one that fits your home and personal taste.
Going faux is often a convenient option because you can guarantee the 'perfect shape' and easily ensure it's the right size for you. It also lasts for years to come so can save you money in the long run.
2. Shop for quality
Always remember, when it comes to Christmas trees, real or artificial, you get what you pay for. The best-quality real trees are likely to have been hand-trimmed in the field before being cut down or dug up, which is why they're a good shape. Trees are a bit like cats and dogs - you can tell if they're healthy by the sheen of their coat. Ideally, you want your tree to be a shiny, glossy green. All Dobbies fresh trees are British-grown so they arrive fresher than Continental varieties.
I also recommend taking the tree by the trunk and tapping it on the ground. Evergreens lose needles year round, but if too many fall off you might want to select an alternative. If you opt for a potted Christmas tree, remember there is a difference between a tree being 'containerised' and 'grown in the container'. Containerised trees are grown in a field, pulled from the ground and then their roots are trimmed to fit into a pot. This may mean that some of the roots are destroyed and the tree dries out quicker.
The better option is a tree that is 'grown in the container'. It will have been in a pot for most of its life, have a good fibrous root system and will probably not be much more than 1m tall. These trees survive longer and will happily be planted in your garden and dug up next year.
3. Know your room
Make sure you know the height of the room you're putting your tree in to, you can't rely on the 'label'. You also need to make sure you know how big your tree is because whilst tree sizes go up in feet, there can be a margin of thirty centimetres either side. This means a 5ft tree could actually be nearer to 6ft in some retailers. It's worth bearing in mind that the tree stand will add up to fifteen centimetres at the base.
Height isnt the only measurement you need to consider. The width can also vary between trees, which is why you should also never buy a Christmas tree ready-wrapped, or equally ready-boxed if it's artificial.
When a tree is packed away you don't know what you're getting. It could be too wide for your room or too uneven in shape. Any good seller will be happy to rewrap the tree for no extra charge. At Dobbies, we offer a special bag to protect real trees (and your car) whilst in transit.
4. Decorative dressing
First and foremost, don't unwrap the tree and begin decorating until it's secure in its base. If you do, you'll find yourself fighting with branches and crawling underneath the foliage. Once the tree is positioned and you're happy it isn't in the way of any pets or little ones, leave it to stand for 24 hours so that the branches can settle down.
Now for the fun stuff. Think about what you want your tree to say about you before choosing the decorations and then decide what will complement your home. Dobbies has an array of ideas, style and colours, which will make your tree sparkle and look truly spectacular.
If you want to bring the outdoors in and cover your tree and home in winter flora and wildlife, you will be bang on trend. Owls, hedgehogs and reindeer decorations are proving popular choices this Christmas. Other trends include using iridescent sparkling decorations, especially those with a fairy tale theme.
When you're ready to dress the tree, start by selecting the biggest items from your assortment of decorations and display them on the larger branches, then repeat this winning technique by matching smaller decorations to the more petite branches. On my own trees, I always fix the decorations to the tree with wire, rather than string - this means I can completely control where they sit, rather than rely on where they 'hang'.
5. The tree is your guest
Your Christmas tree is a short term visitor, so it is only right to treat it properly. If you opt for a real Christmas tree, make sure it gets enough water. Fortunately the fashion is for tree stands that hold water and if you cut off a couple of centimetres from the stump, it will be able to take up the water you give it. Your tree will need approximately 1-2 litres a day, depending on the temperature of the room and if you have any pets who may think it's a new water bowl!
Some people swear by putting sugar in with cut flowers to keep them fresh, and it's sometimes suggested that the same principle is applied to trees. I have even heard of lemonade being used. Personally, I think water is perfect.
Remember that if you put your tree close to a fire or radiator, it's going to dry out - a Nordman Fir would lose its sheen and look dull coloured by Christmas Day and a Norway Spruce would simply lose more of its needles. Whilst radiators are easy to spot, also make sure you're not placing it too close to any Christmas candles. Not only will they dry your tree out, but they could present a fire risk.
6. The afterlife of the authentic tree
Once the Christmas turkey has been devoured and New Year bells have rung, it's finally time to say farewell to the festive period. You can put your tree to good use by recycling it. Call your local council and ask if they will collect your tree from your doorstep. Artificial trees need to be carefully wrapped and re-boxed securely to make sure they are looking tiptop next year.
If you opted for a pot-grown Christmas tree, remember to plant it as soon as possible in January to enjoy it the following year. Select a spot that has well drained soil, sun, and enough space for the tree to sit comfortably. Then all you need to do is keep the tree watered and protected.
Tagged in Christmas Decorating Tips