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Christmas

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Original poster

I want a real tree

34 replies

Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 10:35

Have never, even growing up, had a real tree. Everyone says how much hassle they are the needles everywhere BLA I want one! How do you stand it up though? A bucket a special pot I'm clueless. If you get real trees please come and tell me what you do with yours.

OP posts:
Gumby · 04/09/2012 10:37

A bucket covered in tin foil

Original poster
Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 10:42

Does it not fall out of bucket though? And do they smell as nice as I think they do?

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lizzywig · 04/09/2012 10:43

I've always had a real tree, the smell is Christmas to me. I've always bought a Christmas tree bucket which has prongs in that support the tree. If you get a big tree it's worth tying it to something stable - my parents' tree fell over one year. Don't forget to turn your radiator off if you put it next to one.

MirandaWest · 04/09/2012 10:45

I buy one that comes in its own bucket. Then I stand it on a piece of Christmas wrapping paper, with some newspaper underneath. Any needles fall on the wrapping paper.

charlottehere · 04/09/2012 10:49

They are not much hassle at all really. You can get ones where the needles aren't supposed to fall, they do but its not too bad, worth it, the smell and the look.

charlottehere · 04/09/2012 10:49

You can get a special stand (b&Q)

Original poster
Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 10:55

It's not going next to a radiator, I've planned where it's going already (I'm so sad) the smell is one of the main reasons I want one!

Getting one in a pot already sounds a good idea less omg what am I going to do with it. Newspaper with wrapping on top sounds ok, I have laminate so hopefully won't be finding them months after.

Is there any recycle sort of schemes for after. Don't want to just dump it down the tip after.

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DontmindifIdo · 04/09/2012 10:57

I love real trees - I really, really do, they are gorgeous and smell fabulous, and make Christmas feel Christmassy (and by their very nature of not lasting long, force you to delay putting them up until close to Christmas - therefore avoiding the 'its been Christmas for a month and so no longer special' feeling). However, SIL is allergic to Christmas trees (yes, this is a real thing) so we have to have a fake one Sad . Not sure if we are actually going to see her this Christmas either, that's the most annoying bit, we have had years where she's not actually made it to our house over Christmas (we did see them, just at PIL's house) but I still can't have a real tree 'just in case they pop over'.

Ephiny · 04/09/2012 11:06

We have a real tree - outdoors, growing in a big pot :)

Original poster
Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 11:07

Oh yeah B&Q do trees and stands thanks Charlotte.

I would be annoyed about the sil thing, not her fault about allergy but I would have one anyway and if she comes she will just have to stay in the kitchen.

Getting so excited about Xmas now, was saying at mums last year and she wouldn't even think about getting a real tree.

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GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 04/09/2012 11:11

I put mine in a metal waste paper basket with weights at the bottom. I have got a fabric cover that covers the bin.

I don't have anything underneath, just hoover the needles every day. Its not that bad.

It is so much prettier than a fake tree.

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 04/09/2012 11:11

I put mine in a metal waste paper basket with weights at the bottom. I have got a fabric cover that covers the bin.

I don't have anything underneath, just hoover the needles every day. Its not that bad.

It is so much prettier than a fake tree.

flyoverthegoldenhill · 04/09/2012 13:08

my mum never had a real tree
you should get one, the smell in the morning it IS christmas
and our council have a special collection for them

AmberLeaf · 04/09/2012 13:14

I love them, the smell is gorgeous however they are a bugger to decorate particularly getting the lights to stay on the branches!

Last one I had was a live growing one in its own pot.

Original poster
Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 16:02

Im so getting one this year. Happy everyone else doesn't think I'm mad to want a real one!

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Goldpippin · 04/09/2012 16:06

We have a 7ft real one every year, you can't beat the smell it wouldn't be Christmas for me without one. We have a red sparkly tree stand that it goes in. We get the tree on the Saturday after they have broken up for the holidays and then put it up on the Sunday night. Just the experience of choosing the tree is a special part of our Christmas.

GobblersKnob · 04/09/2012 16:13

I always have a real one, it has a special stand thing that you screw it into, kind of like this one so there is no possibility of it falling.

A real one is a far greener (as in environmentally) option than a fake one and the smell is fab.

funnypeculiar · 04/09/2012 16:22

We always have one - and have a special stand for it. Get a Nordman - more expensive but honestly, hardly any needle drop - and don't forget to water the tree loads too.

If you want to hear about real hassle, we have real candles on the tree as well...

Original poster
Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 16:22

Ok really stupid question but do you have to water it? If so how does that work with the lights?

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Original poster
Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 16:24

Oh xpost with the watering, now imagining electrocuting myself!

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Secret7 · 04/09/2012 16:25

We always used to have a real tree but after a few disasters we gave up and bought artificial.

1st was was held in a screw/vice thing and was in a black tub. I stupidly watered it everyday as I thought it had roots (god knows why I thought it did) - we had a big water mark on the carpet.

2nd was when DH dragged the tree into the house through some dog shit. Despite hosing it down there was always a "smell" hanging around.

3rd was when DH bought the tree and realised it was too big for the house. He chopped the top off so we ended up with a flat topped tree.

Good luck with yours Grin

Original poster
Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 16:28

Haha secrets I don't think real trees are for you!

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GobblersKnob · 04/09/2012 16:29

They like lemonade more than water (honestly) very good for stopping them dropping.

Thumbwitch · 04/09/2012 16:34

Yes you have to water them, like any cut flower/plant.

I used to have real trees every year in the UK; but would always buy rooted ones in pots in the hope of keeping them alive til the following year. Could never manage to afford more than about a 3-4' tree though. :(

I did have one that survived 2 Christmases but most of them, they hack the roots about so much when they dig them up that they can't make it. The one that survived, I dug up myself (from a "pick your own" farm - they only did it that one year, I think) so made sure its roots were in good nick. I repotted it but I think I may have not watered it enough the second Christmas and it just failed. :(. I tried keeping the indoors for months afterwards - it's lovely watching the new green shoots grow! - and then putting them outside; and I tried putting them straight out after Christmas (that usually killed them quicker) but they need a lot of water if they're in pots and I just don't think I watered them enough once outside.

Original poster
Inneedofbrandy · 04/09/2012 16:39

Would hairspray keep all the needles on?

So excited about Xmas now!!

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