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Original poster

Christmas trees - tips and advice thread

24 replies

Bucketsofdinosaurs · 25/09/2006 09:54

Got to buy a decent sized Christmas tree this year and don't know where to start. Have moved house and now have room for our 3' plastic tree in the kitchen for the kids to decorate horribly as well as a new big grownup tasteful one in the front window.
What are people's opinions, tips and experiences on Christmas trees? How do I choose a real one and are they a hassle? What is the best kind of pot/stand? Would a plastic one be more or less environmentally friendly?

OP posts:
alexsmum · 25/09/2006 09:55

top tip is decorate it yourself-don't pay someone else to do it!

kayleigh81 · 25/09/2006 11:48

I bought a real tree last year from a garden centre. They are pre-treated so the pine needles dont fall off all over the place and you can buy the stands that just screw into the bottom of the tree. I will definatley be getting one this year as well, they are much nicer than the plastic ones and they give off a lovely smell..oohh im feeling all christmassy all of a sudded

JackieNo · 25/09/2006 11:54

We've been buying the non-needle drop ones for the last few years, having babies and toddlers around, and I've been a bit disappointed, as although they don't drop as many needles, I think they don't have as much smell as the 'normal' ones. I think we might just go for a normal one this year, as DS is now old enough not to eat the needles (famous last words...)

Bramshott · 25/09/2006 11:58

I would definitely go for a non-drop one - I didn't last year due to the cost, and was still finding needles in the sofa last week!

RTKangaMummy · 25/09/2006 12:00

Go for a NORDMAN iirc

And keep it watered well {like a plant or flowers} it should always have water

We have those each year and they hardly drop at all

JackieNo · 25/09/2006 12:01

We always start off with the best intentions of watering ours, and then after it's in the stand, and all the presents are round it, we always forget.

NomDePlume · 25/09/2006 12:04

Funnily enough DH and I were talking about where we'll out the Christmas tree, odd for us as we're not usually even thinking about Christmas until early Dec.

We moved house this year too and we've decided to have the Christmas tree in the hall in this house. We've got to get a new one as the old one went to the charity shop when we moved (it was an unholy nightmare to erect and DH used to refuse and just left me to do it every year so I insisted we replace the blasted thing).

scotlou · 25/09/2006 12:06

We get a real one. Don't put it up too early - ours lasts farly well from mid December through to Twelfth Night (although starts to look a bit droopy by the New Year.) Get one of teh varieties taht don't drop their needles so much - and try and source a local one. I regularly see lorry loads of Christmas trees driving down south from early November! If you get a local one (we get ours from a Scottish Woodlands place) then at least you know when it has been cut so it has more chance of lasting.
Obviously keep it watered and don't put it net to a radiator! (or switch teh radiator off)
Can you tell I love Christmas and "real" trees??

Clary · 25/09/2006 12:13

Now I have bought non needle drop before from our local garden centre at £25 a pop - but do you know what, they don?t look as good unless you can go for a 7ft+ one (too bushy at the bottom and tin at the top), they don?t smell nice and they still drop the flippin needles!
So last yr I bought a gorgeous norway spruce, lovely shape, mush easier to decorate (more branches) lovely smell and only £12. We have a great cast-iron stand which was £25 but worth it, just make sure it?s topped up with water and hoover every day (I do anyway) and it was fine, honestly. Had visions of needles dropping every time someone breather but it wasn?t the case, honest.

JackieNo · 25/09/2006 12:57

Pine needles are another reason why I love my laminate floor. So much easier to get up than from carpet.

NomDePlume · 25/09/2006 12:59

I have a tiled floor in my hall, another reason the tree is going in there.

ohbother · 25/09/2006 12:59

buy real one in pot - plant in garden after - dig up again in a year's time. less needles, and it's the green way, doncha know

Original poster
Bucketsofdinosaurs · 25/09/2006 13:01

Hmm, maybe pine needles filling up the cracks between my floorboards might be a good idea (insulation, pleasant antiseptic smell...)
If I don't see the perfect secondhand plastic one for sale by mid-December I shall go for a real one. We always had a plastic one when I was growing up so the smell doesn't do anything for me, don't think I actually like it much in fact , well pine-flavoured loo cleaner anyway .

OP posts:
sorkycake · 25/09/2006 20:20

Maybe I'm a bit common, but I like the fake tree we got 9 years ago. It cost a fortune looks absolutely real and is still going strong. My mum went through a faze when I was at home of having a real tree (obviously one of her grandiose moments) and we hated it! It looked bald, sad and stank!
Just my twopenneth

naswm · 25/09/2006 21:08

CHRISTMAS TREES??????????? It is 25 Septmber!!!!!!!

giggly · 25/09/2006 23:36

When my brother was born, oh now 27 years ago, to stop him pulling over the tree I at 12 came up with the very excellant idea of putting the tree in my brothers play pen, collected all the needles neatly and no baubles etc at a low level for him to pull off. I will be doing the same this year with dd 15 months. Also keeps dd (and dh) from touching presents.

jennifersofia · 25/09/2006 23:44

When you get a stand, make sure you get one that is fairly sturdy if you are going to get a tree that is over 3ft. That is, it needs to be deep enough to hold a good amount of water as you don't want to be scrabbling around under there often, it should be relatively easy to fill, also not terribly lightweight so the tree doesn't tip over. Added bonus is having the bit that holds the trunk be adjustable. Trying to trim your tree trunk to size is not fun. If you can't find a stand that fits all of these requirements, you can always go for the bricks in a bucket option.
(oh yes, don't listen to your dad / husband when he tries to convince the entire family that this tree isn't good enough and you should trawl around for another hour looking for a better one, only to come back to the original...)

Clary · 26/09/2006 13:05

yes jenniersofia, our stand is cast iron and weighs a ton! great for the purpose tho.

CountessDracula · 26/09/2006 13:15

sorry but there is nothing as tasteless as a "tastefully" decorated christmas tree!

Original poster
Bucketsofdinosaurs · 26/09/2006 14:06

Well, all right, artistically decorated then. TBH there's nothing tasteful about Christmas is there?

OP posts:
sorkycake · 26/09/2006 16:13

I agree entirely CD. Christmas trees should have a ton of toys chucked at them, nothing vaguely matching, and god forbid it's one of those hideous colour coordinated, "I couldn't be arsed to go decent christmas bauble shopping, so just went to argos and bought a tree in a box complete with decorations" pieces of crap.
My nephews asked every year if they could have our tree, as theirs was all silver and lilac (mother's choice) and boring.
Breaks your heart to hear it tbh.

CountessDracula · 26/09/2006 22:42

quite sorkycake

BoD don't do it!

Skribble · 26/09/2006 22:53

My tree has 9 yrs of home and school made decorations on it. There is a vague red, green white scandinavian theme in there somewhere.

Clary · 27/09/2006 00:14

Our tree has a decoration for each child for the last four years or so, they chose them so you can imagine they are far from tasteful!

Also all the cardboard baubles they decorated with glitter at nursery, plus some lovely German angels my mother bought me once. It's a long way from anyone's idea of taste!

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