Christmas trees?

[topbannana]

After a traumatic childhood with shit plastic trees I swore to always have real ones.
A couple of years when funds have been limited I have decorated a large birch (or similar) twig, much to DSs disgust :o
This year we are at home with family staying so I really want a real tree. We have previously rented one which goes back in the New year and is replanted for next year. I loved the idea, didn't begrudge what it cost and we get to stick a label on it with our name so we can have the same one back the following year :)
Just checked online and the cheapest is £96!!!!
Quite frankly that is far too much for me and I will not pay it
I understand the weather the last couple of years has hindered tree growth but that seems scandalous. So do I buy artificial , go for another twig, poach something green from the forest, or will other suppliers have trees cheaper?

[SevenOnwardsAndUpwards]

We just buy a real one from the nearest Christmas tree farm, is it really awful that it doesn't get re-planted? I guess if you had a garden you could re-plant it yourself for next year. Ours cost around £25 for 6ft.

[wonderingsoul]

that is alot..but what does it cost you next year? is it a one of payment?

if its a buy your tree.. replant it use it agin next couple of years for free..it might not be so bad?

homebase etc do real trees..not sure on the prices though.

[SpookyTeacakes]

We try to go to the nearest independent place- the sort that have a home made 'XMAS TREES 4 SALE' sign they're usually just from their own land and about £20. I suppose you might not get those if you're in a town?

[topbannana]

No, you pay the same amount the next year TBH we started using them when they first started out but they have really grown in popularity recently and been featured in the Sunday times (or similar) so prices have shot up.
I shall scour roadsides for these mythic signs I think. I have found a farm nearby where you can cut your own (which I was vair excited about) but apparently the tree needs to lie for 24 hours after cutting and our climate is too mild for good needle retention etc (either the guy was a crap businessman or brutally honest, couldn't decide which!)

[SpookyTeacakes]

We always leave the tree out over night to allow the branches to stop down, never had a massive problem only creepy crawlies

[snappybadger]

I love real trees but they are getting quite expensive. Last year's one dropped needles all the time and didn't even smell! I was pretty fed up with it to be honest. So I have ordered a really nice fake tree this year from here: www.christmastreeworld.co.uk/

They have a good range and some are even supposed to feel like real trees (bit pricey for me so I went for a cheaper one).

I will miss the annual picking out the Christmas tree day, but am looking forward to having it up for the entire month of December rather than feeling like I couldn't wait to chuck it out so I wouldn't have to hoover every day!

[girlywhirly]

Could you buy a real, potted tree with root ball intact, and keep it outside, re-using the following year? You would need to water and feed it and so on, and maybe have a smaller tree than usual in order to move it.

I had a partly rooted one once (the usual Norway spruce), and it actually put on growth during the year in the garden, and was used again.

[Marne]

I know someone who bought a potted one and planed it in their garden after Christmas, the following year they re-potted it to use for Christmas again.

TBH I would just buy one from a local garden centre or b&q, im sure the trees that are cut down are replaced with new anyway. We are having a real tree this year, I usually put my tree up on the 1st of December but this year I will put the other decorations up and leave the tree until a few days before Christmas (so the needles don't fall out before the big day).

[SpookyTeacakes]

I've found the trouble with big stores (we've been to homebase before) is they're already wrapped so you can't see what they look like, they take ages to open up their branches and have been cut ages before whereas local ones are grown in this climate and only a cut that week.

[mmmmmchocolate]

Thank you for that link snappybadger I'm on my phone but some of those trees look lovely and really cheap!

Can you post back later if the quality is as good as it looks. I've always had an artificial despite vowing that I would always have a real one when I was an adult I've had the same one for 7 years and it's ok but not as realistic as some you can buy now.

[snappybadger]

Glad you found it helpful mmmmmchocolate. The tree arrived this week but I have just stored it in the shed for now and probably won't open it until December.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

We have a potted tree that is about 5 years old now (from Homebase). It's still growing but it had the top lopped before we got it, so doesn't grow taller )

It lives outside because the pot is too heavy (didn't consider the Spider Factor until now ) but we put it on the patio table with solar lights Aaaaaahh so it's pretty when I'm at the sink.

A couple of years ago , a bit disappointed by the real trees , we bought a fake one.
First year , it arrived on the 22nd so hastily thrown together, I was a bit "Is that it ? "

But then we took more time last year to assemble, let it stand a while an fluff up the branches. (It's a prelit) I put more lights on, tiny white lights, and hundreds of baubles.

I was really chuffed and I don't miss the Christmas Tree Smell because I'm not a fan of pine.

New tree skirt for this year