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

[NeonIcedcoffee]

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

@soberfabulous

intothesheepfold it doesn't wiggle around in a bucket, you get a fabulous gadget that holds them up sturdily and allows water to be in the base.

Thank you very much indeed for this info soberfabulous much appreciated!

I'm so happy-I've managed to persuade my DH to have a real tree this year. I have never had a real tree in all my married life (as they are very expensive for something that lasts a few weeks).

We used to have one when I was a young girl and I still remember the smell. Heavenly.

I have booked a slot at a local Christmas Tree farm to saw our own so my DC will enjoy that hope no one loses any fingers

We used to have one when I was a young girl and I still remember the smell.

The one's that smell the best are also the most likely to drop their needles. It's getting harder and harder to find Norwegian spruces as everyone wants to put their trees up before the 1st December so want non drop varieties.

I live in a Christmas tree exporting area. They start loading them into containers to ship off around the world in September! There is a good chance unless you cut them yourself that any tree you buy later will have been cut some time before.

That being said, I think they drop far fewer needles when they are cut as fresh as possible.

YANBU.

However, you can get a stand that you can water which helps. I’m not getting ours yet though - apart from it being far too early, the only place I can put it is in front of the radiator which obviously doesn’t help.

@Goosefoot

I live in a Christmas tree exporting area. They start loading them into containers to ship off around the world in September! There is a good chance unless you cut them yourself that any tree you buy later will have been cut some time before.

That being said, I think they drop far fewer needles when they are cut as fresh as possible.

This is what the garden centre said. The change is they are inside. Our house isn't too warm which may help. I've always put them up early ish and they have been fine.

Always used to get our real ones at the start of December and if you make sure it’s not too near a radiator and you top up the tree with water regularly and sometimes coke then it should be fine .

We always go to a farm and cut ours fresh around Dec 1. When we get home, we saw a bit more off the bottom and put it in a stand which has a big water reservoir. We got a blue spruce this year because we have cats and they don’t try to climb it because the needles are too spiky. They don’t last as long as a Nordmann, but will still get through Christmas nicely with daily watering. The beginning in particular is most important I think. You need to get it water the minute you saw off the end at home because dried sap prevents it from soaking up water. Garden centre ones can be hit and miss if you get them too early though as you don’t know how long they’ve been cut and sitting there without water. Having said that, the Nordmann firs really do last very well and will usually look nice and hold their needles well into the new year if you water them regularly, even if you buy at the beginning of December.

We generally do the first weekend in December (so next weekend) and always have a real tree. Never had any issues and usually going strong even when I take it down 5th January.

Absolutely will survive (and thrive) until Christmas And beyond. We go to a farm and have ours chopped the day we put it up (yesterday) and it’s still green When it’s chucked out into the the garden until DH gets round to getting rid! If you buy a ready wrapped tree from a shop I imagine they have been out of water for a long time so will probably die on you. I second water twice a day - we probably give ours about a litre on the morning and again at night.

We have got with, one freshly cut on Saturday morning and a potted one. Both are always in great condition after a month.

I put mine up on the 1st of December every year, they last until 1st week of Jan every year and my house is very warm. I just water it every couple of days..

I'm a total novice. Got our very first real tree this weekend. Have chopped a few inches from the base of the trunk and it's in a stand with a water reservoir, it's drinking plenty and smells amazing.

Went for a Nordman Fir. Would be interested why some have described them as a fire hazard though??

Now I just need to keep the bloody cats away!

Our real tree goes in the conservatory, we have an artificial one in the lounge. Being in the conservatory means firstly it's cooler and lasts longer (we water it lots) and secondly if it does droop a little not many people will see it !! Even more so this year

We cut our tree ourselves, so it's fresh, we water regularly, and it always lasts from 1st Dec to 6th Jan.

I do wonder how long some of those pre-cut trees have been hanging around before they are bought.

@Br1ll1ant

Water it regularly and add lemonade and ours is always mostly fine (if a little droopy!) from the first weekend in December til 12th night. You need to saw off the bottom when you get it and stick it in a bucket of water for a couple of days before you bring it inside too. Works for us anyway!

Lemonade? That’s a new one...what’s it supposed to do?

I would love a real tree, I've never had one before. What about beasties? Are there not spiders living in them etc?

Lemonade? That’s a new one...what’s it supposed to do?

The same as it does with cut flowers, I suppose. Makes them last longer.

For Christmas trees, just water seems to work well enough for me.

We always have a real tree. Usually buy it around 3 weeks before Christmas and never water it. It usually doesn't go droppy until a few days into the new year.

My Nordman fir which we got 28/11. It is dead (if you squeeze the branches the needles drop) probably because I gave up refilling the reservoir when there were presents in the way but it still looks ok and smells really nice.
Have to bring myself to take it down soon but I am still enjoying it so it can stay a bit longer.