Real christmas tree....come and help a novice

[ohnoshedittant]

We'd like to get a real tree this year, but never had one before and don't really know what we're doing! So I'm wondering....

what tree should we get? My research so far tells me Nordman Fir keeps it's needles, but a Norway spruce is half the price. Have been told a Norway Spruce should be ok if we keep it watered. Anyone have any idea? Would like to spend less if we can...

Where is the best place to get one? Order online and have delivered from a tree place or go to garden centre and get one?

If the tree is in water and we've lights on the tree are we asking to be electrocuted? I'm assuming not as loads of people do this, but Dsis is convinced it's not safe...

What is the best sort of stand? Will a pot do or do we need to invest in a special stand thing?

TIA to anyone who can answer my silly questions

Lots if your questions can be answered in one go - as I was turning up to suggest you get the sort of stand that holds the tree in place with adjustable clamp thingys and has a water well in it. Can't link you one ATM as I'm on stupid phone. We've had a couple if different varieties of tree, Inc the cheap and cheerful, but no trouble with dropped needles since we got the stand.

Going to have one try at a link - sorry if it doesn't work!!
www.dobbies.com/Nordman-Green-Christmas-Tree-Stand/pid-VAR442492?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=Real%20Christmas%20Tree%20Stands&utm_campaign=.

If you're in Essex OP, my friend has ordered a living tree from this company. If we were still in Essex, I'd order from them as I think it's a great idea.

We get ours from anywhere local that sells them, greengrocers, garden shop etc. I have no idea what sort I have ever bought!
The needles do drop but not so much that it's a problem, just need to run the Hoover round a few times a week.
The most important thing to us is that it's fairly even and straight so beware buying one in the netting, you need to see it out and hold it up to see if you like the 'look' of the tree, is it too wide, is it lopsided (a lot are very lopsided, they then end up falling over). What does the top look like, I like ones with a skinny bit sticking out of the top to set off the angel /star.
For these reasons I'd not be keen to buy on line, I like to see it first.
We use a metal stand thing where you pop the bottom of the tree in then tighten the screws on either side. Because of this we always look at the base of the 'stalk', sometimes they are too short to fit in the holder and sometimes too wide so we've ended up having to saw some off. There's no water involved.
Have fun choosing!

Definitely go for a stand-with-clamp design where you can water. I fill ours to the top when we get it and it usually drinks a lot overnight, after that just top it up a bit, it doesn't use too much. Just make sure your socket isn't right next to where you pour the water (remember you'll probably have to crouch/lay on the ground to get the water in, go slowly!).
Would also avoid t'internet on this occasion as you need to get a look at the tree 'in the round'. We usually cut a little off the stalk and sometimes the bottom tier of branches.
Nordman's are very good for needle retention but they don't really have much of an aroma. They don't seem to cause that itchy hand reaction though, so it's swings and roundabouts.

if you are intending to have a real tree from now on invest in a stand. I have one with three legs and the trunk sits in it supported by three bolts that you tighten up in to the trunk. Easy to water.
I prefer Norway Spruce;s as they have more branches and therefore you can get more on them! I would check out any local superstores, or B+Q type as they often have cheaper trees than garden centres.
Ask around at school gates? I live in the in the countryside but still shop around, we can go cut one down here but that ends up being about £4.50 a foot.

Look for a healthy one, don't buy one too early. Cut about an inch of the trunk and get it striaght into a bucket. When i was a kid my mum always put ours in a big farmy type bucket supported by bricks inside, but it's a bit of a faff!!

Put the lights on first starting at the top, and take your time doing this so that when you get to the bottom, near the water you can arrange the end bit of the lights away form the water. Yet this isn't a prob becuase the tree is so wide at the bottom compared to where the water source is.

good luck!!!!

yes you'll have to trim branches from the bottom to fit it in the stand.

Do this bit all in the garden btw, or in yard/outside home, then bring it in when it's secured in the stand.

i have a stand just like this, it's lasted 10 yrs so far!

here

Don't water it with water; use lemonade... :)

hmm have heard this pottering, does it really work, and is there a real improvement to the tree's life expectancy?!

Can I just say that getting it from forest to garden centre and then into stand was always a NIGHTMARE for us.

I'm way to much of a control freak to let DH choose without me and we only have one car so where did we put the tree if back seat's full of kiddos?

Then we had to chop tree and fit it into STUPID stand which was always a nightmare. And trying to find a time when we were all free to go was a nightmare too.

So we bought an expensive fake and now the kids and I can build it at our leisure with mulled wine and carols for the decs to be added...so, so much simpler!!

I'm not sure to be honest, but it's one of those things my mum and dad always do and told us to fo and I'm tooscared not to :o
It's the same reason I never eat skittles...!

Our real tree always lasts and never sheds tjough so there must be something in it!

If you get a real tree, there is absolutely no point in putting the trunk in water unless you saw a couple of inches off the base of the trunk. Due to the resin they produce, they self-heal and cannot take up water unless you do this. Kept topped up with water it should last a good three weeks guananteed for a Norway spruce.

If you don't want to buy a stand, you can use a watertight tub with gravel in it as ballast to keep the tree upright. Put some gravel in up to half way, then stand in tree, then top up with gravel. Add water. Do this where you want the tree located as it is very heavy!

Lights are safe, unless you drop them in the water or splash the plug.

Our garden centre always has a really good selection - although they are very pricey. However, they will deliver for free as well.

I'd definitely go for a non-drop one, even though they are more expensive.

i always get a real tree on the first sat in dec, have a coal fire most nights and never water - all have lasted til after ny!

Lidl do the stands for a reasonable price.
You have to be careful to pick a tree that is fairly even, if it's lopsided it'll be a nightmare to stand up and you'll spend all christmas trying to prevent it toppling.
They keep better if they're kept a bit cooler, stand it away from radiators and other heat sources

We have the most expensive stand ever bought once when there was not a stand to be found within 20 miles of our house but honestly it was a fantastic buy. No more fighting with the screws on the base or wonky trees and holds a massive tree really securely.

I have a couple of rooted trees - one that was bought potted and about 18" high some 12 years ago, and one that was bought with a rootball in a hessian sack 3 years ago. Both are now in quite large pots, the ones with handles on the side, so we can lug them about the garden! The first is pushing 6' tall, the other is only about 3'6". We can bring them in or leave them out as we fancy (have shatterproof outdoor baubles and LEDs) and we never have to pay through the nose for new trees each year. And having them outside helped a lot while DS was a toddler!

Last one cost us about 8 quid from the local independent nursery/garden centre. Plus a fiver for the pot and another £3-4 for compost. Since then, nothing. Sits in the pot all year and attracts goldcrests (our tiniest bird and soooo pretty!) just 6-7 feet from the kitchen window.

Thanks so much for your help everyone!

Will def go to a garden centre or somewhere I can see before I buy (never thought about the lopsided thing!).

and will get a stand rather than pot as that seems to be the general consensus.

Fraser fir. Usually more aromatic than the others.

I love christmas trees!

it depends on the look of the tree, you can have a nord man spruce that has dark leaves that are larger/flatter with a silver underside- beautiful trees.

Nordman firs are lovely too, lighter in colour but smell really good too.

I would suggest ordering from ladds garden centre in nr Reading. They really look after thier trees and they are of good quality, also prices are good too.
(just keep away from the xmas decorations department, youl want to buy it all!)
Dont worry about electrocuting yourself, as long as you dont stick a live wire into water youl be fine!
you will need a base, but most places you buy trees from will sell these too. The tree should last 3 weeks without drooping, and if you get a nordman, they dont drop their needles. but do cut the bottom off the tree and top up water to let it drink!