Where do you buy your real tree from? And how long does it last?

[BercowsFestiveFlamingo]

We always get a real tree and it has to be just so. I've tried a few places: b&q, Homebase, garden centres and a tree farm. The tree farm ones were the worst but I think I was just unlucky. The one from b&q was obviously scented by a wild animal and stank like skunk 🤢
The tree is my favourite and most important part of Christmas so I want to make sure I get the best one possible.

Where have you found to be the best?

I get mine from a local farm. Been using them for about 3 years and I buy first weekend in December and take down on the twelfth night. Very few needles dropped.

Someone who sells them for £20-30 in the local high street, freshly cut, don’t drop and still look great by mid Jan- do you have something local ?

I get mine from a local field. A bloke owns the field and you ring him up and he meets you there, you choose a tree and he chops it down.

From a local farmer. We buy it mid December, keep it outside, put it up the weekend before Christmas and it lasts until 12th Night.

I've not seen any local field type places nearby. There's a Christmas tree farm but the two I've had from there have had to be replaced a week later. Just unlucky I'm sure but puts me off going there again.

I always get mine first weekend of Dec and it lasts until after NY. I normally drag it out on NYD as I want it gone by the time I go back to work.

Some of the farms buy their trees in. Or at least cut them a week before you buy them. One local farm has them all stacked up in the yard, not in water.....and they’ve been there a week since being delivered on a lorry.

Ask on a local Facebook group.

ARe you keeping it watered? Seems strange to have two die that quickly on you! We got ours today from a local farm. It was chopped in front of us so as fresh as you can get. Did the same last year and it still looked perfect on New Year’s Day when we took it down.

I had a very good one last year from Ikea. Good quality, not expensive to start with and included a voucher that made it virtually free.

I've got the IKEA one now my 3rd year. I always get my tree up by 1sr December. I drag it out of the house first week of Jan. A bit of stoppage but not died on me.

I buy mine from local sellers who set up in a pub car park. Usually spend about £50, £5 of which goes to the local hospice. Buy the tree about a week before Christmas and it stays up until 12th night. Am old fashioned like that.

Always get ours from B&Q. Cut an inch off the bottom when you get it home, straight into a stand with water (it soaks up loads in the 48 hours!). Don’t put it near a radiator and keep the water topped up. We do this every year, only take it out on the 12th night and it barely drops a needle the whole time. We prefer our flat on the cool side which probably helps.

Homebase for the last 2 years and they've been great. Agree with PP cut a good inch off the bottom and fill your stand with water straight away. Then water regularly. We usually put ours up first weekend of December and it's still in perfect condition by Boxing day when I'm ready to take it down

Bought from Aldi the last few years - always cut the bottom inch off and stand in water outside overnight then bring it in. It stands in a reservoir stand and lasts till after New Year.

I’m renting one for the first time this year! From a local truck stop. It will come in a pot, I’ll not accidentally kill it, then it’ll go back to a tree farm to be cared for until next Christmas

Local garden centre £35, buy to put up around traditional 12 days, closest weekend. Probdo it 15th this year. Never used a water filled stand, just a wood block. Turn off the radiator near it and not too bad for dropping needles but varies from year to year

Believe it or not, we got ours from Home Bargains past two years for £9.99. They've been great and lasted and very few dropping needles. Keep watered and jobs a good en.

Our neighbours sell cut your own trees for just £15, any size. It was lovely to go today and choose our own, and we actually dug it out so we can keep it in a pot and hopefully reuse next year (if we manage not to kill it). Not had a real tree since I was a kid, am loving it!

Same as @AndWhatNext
It's our third year too and the last two have kept really well and were still really full when we took the decorations down on the 6th. They're really nice trees. We always used to get a Homebase Nordman Fir which were lovely but almost twice the price.

Haha doesn’t do it justice, it’s really pretty and delicate. We also have a 7ft bushy fake tree which I’ll put up in another room, bought for £30 18 years ago and still going strong!

another one who buys from ikea, Lao our third year of ikea trees. And only £30 for a 7ft tree and a £20 ikea voucher.

All the years I’ve bough real trees my ikea ones have lasted and looked the best.

Last year, mine came from Waitrose and lasted in its pot until August ( garden was being redone due to building work so couldn’t plant it). Plan to do the same this year - but for it to actually get planted. Was a little one though - tiny house.

Usually from a small local shop, 1st or 2nd week December. Put it up very early Dec last year because of guests staying, and still fine by 12th Night.

Essential to saw a bit off the bottom and keep it well watered, though.

We always saw off the bottom and water regularly. The living room radiator next to it is switched off completely. I think I've just been unlucky two years running. Someone at school has recommended a garden centre near Glossop so I'll try there. I can't get to IKEA sadly.

From a charity which gives funds to the St Vincent de Paul to help people in need.
Run by secondary schoolchildren and some teachers.
There are a couple of schools that do it.