First year with a real tree- when to buy?

[SquishySquirmy]

Hi.
This year we are going to have a real tree for the first time. I am ridiculously excited, and want it asap!
But if I buy it now, will it be sad and bald by Christmas?
How far in advance of Christmas can I buy it and still have it looking nice?
I'm assuming the cheap supermarket comes will drop their needles sooner? I only need a little tree, happy to spend a little more for a nicer type - what type to buy?

We get ours between 5-7 Dec usually and it lasts until 12th night easily.
I recommend a Nordmann (sp?) Fir, they last ages.
Norway Spruce is the finer needles sort and they drop quicker.

Think about where you are putting it-the width is usually more of an issue than height. I often fall for a tree that’s too wide at the base

It depends how long you plan to keep it up for. If you take your decorations down between Christmas and New year, a decent tree kept well watered and away from direct heart source (I. E. Don't put it up in front of a radiator) should last from now until without looking too sad!
We keep ours up until the new year (aim for twelfth night but usually around 3/4th) and tend to go for ours around the 10th and have had no longevity issues.

We usually buy ours around 18th December and take it down on 6th January. We keep it well watered and only get a sprinkling of needles on the floor, mostly as I pull baubles and lighting off it when taking it down.

Getting a real tree as an adult for the first time was very exciting, I felt like I'd finally joined the club as I queued for the netting thing...
I normally get mine from a garden centre. Needles don't just drop because of type. It took several years and MN to point out that central heating and no water are also an issue.

To answer your other questions - nordman firs are a good bet, tend to keep their needles a bit more than the srpuces.
I've never had a supermarket one, but know people who do and have never had issues. For me part of the joy of a real tree is walking around and picking it, and you can't do that when it's pre netted at shop, so we've always been to local garden centres for ours.

We got our first real one last year, the last weekend in November and a nordman fir, it lasted well, I kept the water topped up daily and it was fine still at new year.

After years of buying a tree from a local nursery, and the price going up each year, last year we got ours from HomeBase. Nordmann fir which drops less. We will get it this week but bring it in doors by about the 15th. It does last but you need to keep it well watered. Enjoy!

Thank you all!

Our real tree is already up, we've had it for 2 weeks already 🤦‍♀️

They have always lasted at least 5 weeks for us

Top tip is to saw a bit off the bottom so it's freshly cut which helps it drink up more water!

I'd go to a garden centre rather than supermarket as they'll be stored outside and watered

Watching with interest as we normally buy late but want to make sure we don’t get the leftovers this year.

Do make sure you water it well, not just for the needles but also the fire risk. Dry trees are like kindling, even if they still look green.

Not much to add except to say don't get a spruce as you will be hoovering up lots of sharp needles. Buy one smaller than you think you'll need as outdoors in a big open space they look small but once they're in your lounge you realise the small tree you bought is actually enormous!
My DH always adds some sugar to the water but I have no idea if it actually does anything!

We get it from a tree place that cuts their own trees (as opposed to shipping them in from elsewhere)

Our Nordmann Fir looks as good as it did when we put it up when we chuck it out 3ish weeks later. Barely any needles fall off

I’ve had a real tree every year since I left home so pretty experienced with it by now. We always get a Norway spruce, I know they’re not to everyone’s taste because they drop more needles but I prefer the look and smell of them. I have bought them from numerous sources over the years and yes, the supermarket ones are crap so I wouldn’t bother with that again! I’ve bought from local farms, websites such as ‘send me a Christmas tree’ and this year from B&Q.

I’d say avoid supermarket ones as tempting as they are, ours was almost bald by Christmas which just looked sad. The others have fared well. Keep it well watered and away from heat sources and it will be fine. We get ours on the 30th November.

If you’re buying a pre-cut tree - especially if from a garden centre or large chain - then from now on it makes minimal difference when you buy it as many of them have already been cut down. They start to die from the moment they are cut. There are things you can do to prolong the life - cut a good section off the bottom of the trunk before you bring it in (the end sort of seals, so can’t absorb water well) and then water frequently. Don’t get it too warm - so not in front of a radiator. Buying from a “cut your own” (or possibly from smaller, independent suppliers, allotments etc) means the tree will have been cut down that much later and will last longer.

If you only want a small tree, you might want to consider getting a live one. i.e. one that is in a pot and still has its roots. Watered well these will be fine in the house for 5 or 6 weeks. If you have a garden and some space you can then pop it in the ground (or even just a larger pot - although you’ll need to remember to water frequently) and then dig up and bring in again next year. I did this with my first ever Christmas tree (although I lived in a flat, so drove it to my parents and planted there!) and had it for 7 consecutive Christmases before it got too big!

We buy ours the first weekend in December so will be going this weekend. We get them from a local farm so we choose it whilst its still in the ground, always lasts well but I take it down Boxing Day because I get fed up of the decorations and clutter

We normally get ours the second week in December but I’ve gone earlier this year and got it today. Hoping it will last. We’ve had them from all sorts of places and they always have. Tbh unless you are going to a farm and getting it cut fresh most are harvested around now so it won’t make much difference.
Like others said- saw a bit off the bottom when you get it home, water it, keep it away from radiators. We stand ours in the garden in water for 48hours before bringing it in. Also have a stand with a bowl at the bottom for water. Enjoy. I love having a real tree.

I wouldn’t get one before the 18th, when you do get it remember to keep watering it, and don’t put it next to a radiator. Provided you do that it should last until Twelfth Night. Ask for a variety with non-drop needles.

We have a real tree and got it last year. We normally get it the first weekend of December and it's still going strong early Jan so it's always a shame to get rid

My ex did christmas tree cutting in mid november every year, many hundreds of them, travelling around. If it's precut, it will already be cut by now anyway, so buy it now and keep it in the garden until you want it up.

Why not get a small living tree in a pot? You should get a couple of years before it has to be repotted. They don't grow that fast.

I’ve had good luck with a supermarket tree in a pot. I bring it in over Christmas and then put it outside again after 12th Night. It’s lasted five Christmases so far. I wasn’t expecting it to last even till the next Christmas.

We get a nordmann fir the first weekend in December and it easily lasts until the end of January and we’ve never once watered it. It does live in our slightly chilly drawing room which may prolong its life!

I actually would rather a living tree in a pot
that we could keep outside till next year but dh is being weird about it.
He thinks its bonkers having "a random Christmas tree cluttering up the front drive" (I'm trying to add more pots etc outside our front door anyway, as it is rather bleak at the moment).
Ornamental firs and spruces are a perfect normal sight in a front garden though?

If you're wanting delivery you'll need to order ASAP. As a PP said, Nordman Fir keeps its needles better and is quite soft to the touch. The cheaper Norway Spruce looks better but drops needles more. It's also, as my Scottish husband says, "A jaggy wee bastar't!"

This year we went for a 6-7ft Nordmann fit bit it's a little disappointing. 5ft or thick beautiful fir tree and 2 foot is pretty much a twig pointing straight up with a couple of bits pointing up. Maybe next year I'll buy a 8-9ft one and cut off the top twig..

Make sure you invest in a really good quality stand that preferably has a water indicator. We bought a Krinner Comfort stand. It has a lever that you step on to clamp the tree in which is far nicer than laying on the floor twisting screws in and the indicator tab tells you if you're running low on water. Very handy. It's not cheap as others but I'd say a good investment.