What do I need for a real tree?

[BewareOfTheToddler]

This is probably a stupid question but we are getting a real tree this year - first time we've had space for a full-sized one.

Firstly, does anyone have any idea how much a real tree might cost, including delivery? (Have identified a few places locally that deliver and will ring round next week but wanted to get a steer on cost to avoid the sharp intake of breath in the phone).

Secondly, what do we need for it? A pot? A stand? Both? Should we water it? Give it a snack? Planning to get one ideally for the weekend of 16/17 Dec to stay up until 6 January. All advice welcome to ensure it still has needles by Boxing Day!

Oh, and what the heck do we do about the toddler and the cat? Are they going to destroy it within hours?

You need to get as much water into your tree as possible so when you get it, saw an inch off the trunk to get rid of air locks and also take some bark off at the bottom. Then you have a choice of 2 methods:

Old way, get a bucket and some bricks and large stones. Use the bricks and stones to wedge the tree upright before filling the bucket with water. The wedging is easier said than done! Top up with water regularly.

New way. Buy a tree stand that will hold it securely but get a type where you can also keep it watered.

As to the toddler. Get a play pen. Then put the tree up in it! Cats are more tricky but make sure decorations on lower branches are shatterproof!

I think we pay 60-70 each for ours (about 6ft).

We always chop about an inch off the bottoms and leave them in water for a couple of days. We have stands with water reservoirs, but tbh, we only water them for a couple of days and then the novelty of lying on the floor with a jug wears off.

We buy the non-drop Nordman Fir types and they tend to last well in an over heated house. We have 2 - one in the kitchen and one in the sitting room. The kitchen is cooler than the sitting room , but they both stay the same. They come in a week before Christmas usually and come down on NY day.

I;m planning a real tree this year after sending my (very disappointing) pre-lit to Tree Heaven ( local dump) it served us well for a good few years but I hated it with a passion.

So:
This year we'll potter up to a nearby garden centre and find out when they'll get their trees in (haven't seen any yet) .
They chop the end off and put it in a net for transport and we carry it home (its not far)

I have decided on where it will go . Not near a radiator but near enough power points.

I need to check the lights we have and buy some new ones. I like the look of the Cluster Lights and maybe copper or warm white.

If you go up/down rather than spiral round its much easier.

You do need a good heavy stand, one with the twisting bolts is good. We put a good layer of plastic down first then a tree skirt (I have 2 , one is burgandy/gold , one is a felt hand sewn Teddy Train - sewn by me )

I use a 2 lite lemonade bottle to fill for top ups , narrower than a jug.

Enjoy !

I have no idea of price but last one I bought was £50 . About 8 years ago

Local tree farm does one for £30 ish for five foot no drop - no one wants the smaller ones here apparently.
Saw off the end and put in metal stand. Daily spray with water - with lights off.

Re children. Relax. It can look like something out of house beautiful when they are sulky teens and don’t come out their rooms.
Re cats. No idea

A Krinner stand. They're expensive, but absolutely worth it!

Sorry no cats but I know friends who got their artificial tree wrecked by their cat on a regular basis, so I think it doesn't matter what tree you have.

Children: we always have a real tree with wax candles. DD is 10 now and we never had issues or more broken ornaments than pre-DD.

Rules were simple when DD was small - she just wasn't allowed into the living room without an adult. This actually was the rule for the whole year, ours was so tiny, there was no way we could toddler proof it anyway. When we moved and she could use the living room on her own she was older and was ok, so it was just Christmas we barred her from it.

Thank you all - some great suggestions here. Making a mental note to buy a saw as well as a Christmas tree stand!

I think the toddler is more trainable tha the cat, although I may be being overly optimistic. He isn't usually left alone in the living room for more than a few minutes at the time or at least not since the incident with the cat's covered litter tray. I think we may just relocate the cat's food bowls to the kitchen overnight and shut the door - she usually causes mayhem at night rather than in the day, and I'm not sure she can headbutt the living room door open.

Also looks as though my cost estimation may be fairly accurate - I was thinking maybe £50 plus delivery, on the basis that Aldi had trees for £20-£25 this week so it was probably going to be twice as much (or at least, that was my thinking). DP will probably start hyperventilating .

Oh, and unless the local Tesco Express starts stocking them, we have to get it delivered as we have no car and nowhere within walking staggering distance to acquire a six foot Nordmann. We had enough on with the wee 4ft tree we got a few years ago - they're bloody heavy! Have found a few farm shops/tree farms locally which deliver though so at least we'll be supporting a local small business.

We pay around £35 usually. From the local saw mill.