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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To day if you put a real tree up now it will be dead by Christmas?

120 replies

NeonIcedcoffee · 29/11/2020 09:38

We always have a real tree. I really don't like artificial ones, but each to their own. I've seen loads of people putting decorations up early this year which I totally get! I'm going to put a few lights up soon. Mainly people are using artificial trees but I've seen some real trees. I'm thinking the can possibly last?

We normally put our tree up around 10 day maybe 2 weeks before Christmas and although we have a water bath but in the holder it's ver dry by the time it comes down! So am I doing it wrong? I've gad real trees all my life and I'm 35. Or are the people I'm seeing with real trees up actually novices who don't know what they're doing?

YABU = it will be fine from now till Christmas
YANBU = it will die/shed before Christmas

OP posts:
LoveMyKidsAndCats · 29/11/2020 10:45

And I thought my cats might wee on it or something.

wonkylegs · 29/11/2020 10:47

Our real tree goes up 1st weekend of Dec and lasts well til after Christmas when we take it down.
It sits in bay window away from radiator and fireplace so it doesn't get too hot.
Regular watering, positioning, central heating , type of tree and when it was cut will all make a difference.

BucksFizzForBreakfast · 29/11/2020 10:47

Oh no!!! We got a real tree yesterday. I didn't think it wouldn't last. Damn.

SockDrawer · 29/11/2020 10:48

Choose a non drop variety and water it well. Don’t put it next to a radiator and it will be fine.

missyB1 · 29/11/2020 10:49

We’ve ordered one from a local forestry, they will deliver it 14th December, they give you the instructions on how to look after it.

TheFlis12345 · 29/11/2020 10:49

We always get a real tree and put it up on 1st December. We cut a couple of inches off the trunk then it goes into a stand that holds a few litres of water and is topped up regularly. Tree comes down on the 12th night and last year, had barely dropped a needle by then and hadn’t drooped at all. We don’t like our flat too warm and the tree is the opposite side of the room to the radiators which I think helps.

Rhayader · 29/11/2020 10:50

We get our tree one 1st December every year, they make a fresh cut on the bottom and we put it in water ASAP, never letting the water line go below the bottom of the trunk. It always lasts way past Christmas.

Daydreamsinglorioustechnicolor · 29/11/2020 10:52

[quote olderthanyouthink]@Daydreamsinglorioustechnicolor in my studio flat I bought a 5 foot one by walking to B&Q and bringing it home in a IKEA trolley thing. In our current flat we've had them delivered. [/quote]
Getting them delivered is something I didn't realise you could do! Thanks

SanFrancisco49er · 29/11/2020 10:57

Cut the end off when you get it home. Stand it in water for at least 24 hours before bringing it in. Dont put it near anything warm and check everyday if it needs watering. We usually get ours first weekend of Dec and it lasts fine.

Sidge · 29/11/2020 11:06

@TheFluffiestCat water your tree with vodka and lemonade?!

Sod that. I’ll drink the vodka every day instead, then I won’t care if the tree is a bit droopy 😂

OohMrDarcy · 29/11/2020 11:08

Same as others here. I regularly buy it end of November ready for dressing start of December. When I get it home I cut an inch or so off the bottom and put it in a bucket of water. When it comes in, the stand holds water too, 2/3 litres. When first cut it drinks LOADS. Did mine yesterday and have had to top up the water twice already. Within a few days it settles down but I check it twice a day to keep it happy. I also turn down the radiator nearest to it.

DryRoastPeanut · 29/11/2020 11:11

Water your tree, it will be fine.

TheScoresOnTheDoors · 29/11/2020 11:14

We always get a real one quite early and its always fine. Put it in a part of the house with the radiator turned off and regularly water. Having said that, last year we got a spruce rather than a fir so must have been second week in December - yesterday we went to the same place to get one and they said the spruces wouldn't be arriving until next weekend so I'm not sure whether thats just their supplier or whether they cut them a bit later because they don't last quite as long. I wonder whether people who have trouble have very hot houses? I'm always astonished in lots of peoples houses how boiling their heating is and how many hours a day they stick it on for.

Fizbosshoes · 29/11/2020 11:18

I thought that about real trees (we have a fake one) although we havdnt started with decorations yet. We plan to put them up next weekend.
Maybe some people might decorate a (real) tree now....and get another one before xmas...?

LunaLoveFood · 29/11/2020 11:30

We always put our real tree up on 1st December and take it down around the 3rd or 4th of January. We put it in a large bucket that is topped up with water regularly. They always last really well.

Original poster
NeonIcedcoffee · 29/11/2020 15:37

@DryRoastPeanut

Water your tree, it will be fine.
Yeah as I said previously I do water it.
OP posts:
Original poster
NeonIcedcoffee · 29/11/2020 15:38

@MegBusset

Get one in a pot! Then you can plant it outside if you have a garden and bring it in the next year. We had one that did six years before it no longer really had a Christmas tree shape Grin It's still living happily in the garden.

I feel sorry for trees that have had their roots cut, seems such a waste Sad

We don't have a garden.
OP posts:
Original poster
NeonIcedcoffee · 29/11/2020 15:41

@Honeyhoops

YANBU

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

6 weeks!! I've had a real tree every year for over 20 years, had different types over the years and use a water reservoir holder. They always look past their best by Christmas day, I put it up 2 weeks before.

What do you do to get them to last 6 weeks? Or are they all dried out after 2/3 but you keep it up anyway?

This reflects my experience too!

But I think I'll try maybe next weekend. Give it loads of water. Cut extra off the bottom and make sure we get Normandy fir. Although I'm fairly sure we had this kind previously.

Thanks for the input everyone.

OP posts:
Sherin18 · 29/11/2020 15:44

I don’t have a real tree but my dad does and his always lasts from around December 1st until after Christmas. Not sure what he’s doing with it to make it last that lony

Bluexxx · 29/11/2020 15:45

We bought ours today and we were also told to add lemonade to the water. Apparently it makes them last longer and drop less needles?

ShirleyPhallus · 29/11/2020 15:53

Hang on what, you’re meant to water them?!

I’ve never ever watered mine in my life. They’ve been absolutely fine!

Honeyhoops · 29/11/2020 15:55

@NeonIcedcoffee

I'm going to do the same, get ours next weekend, extra off the bottom and try the lemonade thing. We always get a Nordmann Fir anyway, it never drops needles, just usually looks a bit droopy and dry by Christmas.

Hoppinggreen · 29/11/2020 15:57

We have a real one every year with a small water reservoir in the base.
We get it the first weekend in Dec (so next weekend) and it’s only looked very sad by Xmas Day one year

HappyChristmasTreeRex · 29/11/2020 16:01

We used to have real trees and they would last ages, we did give them plenty of water though. Nowadays I feel sad about killing a tree so I decorate the ones in the garden and our old artificial one (probably silly I know).

CecilyP · 29/11/2020 16:01

I think it depends on the tree. I have had ones that lasted well and others that have started shedding very quickly. I had one that really impressed me with how well it was doing, only to find it was still growing in the pot although it was not sold as such.