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Original poster

Getting a real Christmas tree out of the house with minimal needle drop?

54 replies

snowgirl1 · 01/01/2015 20:42

Does anyone have any cunning tricks for getting a real Christmas tree out of the house without getting needles absolutely everywhere? Our tree is already dropping quite badly.

OP posts:
BerniceBroadside · 01/01/2015 20:49

Lift it on to a large sheet and wrap the tree, tying at the top with an elastic band. Undo when you get it outside.

MsRainbow · 01/01/2015 20:50

If you've got an old double duvet cover use that.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 01/01/2015 20:51

Ours is next to a large window that opens very wide so we fling it straight out into the drive.

In our last house we bundled them up in a sheet.

SaucyMare · 01/01/2015 20:51

Lay a large sheet around it, and lop the branches off in the room. Bag it and bin it. All you carry out are plastic bags full of tree and a single needle less trunk.

Hullabalooey · 01/01/2015 20:52

Yes - that's what I do as well! Has worked well for a 5 foot tree - anything larger may need 2 sheets? I use our old dust sheets from decorating.

lilyloo · 01/01/2015 20:54

Our tree is still so lovely will be sad to take it out. I am going to try the clingfilm this year I think , hopefully help with the needles in the car taking it for recycling to.

Hassled · 01/01/2015 20:56

Once you've got everything off it, secateur the shit out of it while it's still in situ - have a large bag to hand for the branches etc (which can go in garden waste bin if you have one). Once you're left with pretty much just the trunk, you can carry that out easily enough.

Tory79 · 01/01/2015 21:00

Dh wraps it in industrial cling film and takes it out. Works well!

Original poster
snowgirl1 · 01/01/2015 21:56

Ooh, lots of good ideas. Thank you! I think I'm going to try using a couple of old dust sheets and see how that works.

OP posts:
Original poster
snowgirl1 · 01/01/2015 21:58

Although the secateurs method would mean that we wouldn't even have to put it into the car, so that's quite a good idea too... decisions, decisions.

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 01/01/2015 22:09

Do your councils not collect them?

Ours will be the week after next.

Vivacia · 02/01/2015 08:50

Doesn't using cling film and plastic make it tricky to dispose of?

bigbluestars · 02/01/2015 08:57

Our council stopped collecting them years ago, due to cutbacks. We are about to tackle ours today. Luckily we bought a Nornman Fir which so far hasn't dropped at all, but I am sure it will om it's way out.
Have to take it in OHs car to the dump. ( Won't fit in my car Wink )

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 02/01/2015 09:02

Our council stopped collecting them years ago too, if you pay for the garden wadte collection you can put the chopped up branches in that but not the trunk.

Fadingmemory · 02/01/2015 09:08

It's a two person task! I carry the tree out with DD hovering directly behind me. By the time I have dumped the tree on the pavement there isn't a needle to be seen. Quicker and less trouble than wrapping in fabric or cling film

ChippyMinton · 02/01/2015 10:00

Lower it onto a large tarpaulin or ground sheet and wrap it up.

Arrowminta · 02/01/2015 11:14

I'm flinging mine out the window which it's stood next to, his year.

Arrowminta · 02/01/2015 11:14

'this'

Fadingmemory · 02/01/2015 11:50

Hovering, not hovering!!

Fadingmemory · 02/01/2015 11:51

Damnation!!!! Vacuuming.

unlucky83 · 02/01/2015 12:02

I found out the branches dried out are fantastic as kindling ...if you have a woodburner/real fire (and space somewhere to keep it for a year to dry out...) Maybe secateur the branches into a storage crate and stick it into the garage...or leave it intact in the corner of the garden?
We had a fake tree this year but thinking of offering to take neighbour's ones off their hands...

RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog · 02/01/2015 12:47

We've previously used our branches for kindling too and will do this I think. Our real tree is fortunately also positioned next to an external door onto the verandah and can therefore be taken straight out that way, although like bigbluestars ours hasn't started dropping yet......

The council here in our new location do still collect - don't think we've ever lived anywhere where they do - so that's one less thing to worry about as we've still not recovered from the move so close to Christmas.

We almost didn't have a real tree at all this year as, having rushed straight out to buy one the day after our purchase completed, the blasted thing fell over complete with tons of glass baubles etc two days later and I was seriously inclined to give it up as a bad job.....my fault entirely though for being too mean to buy a larger basket for it to sit in, grrrrrr!

Iggly · 02/01/2015 12:49

We will wrap ours up. Then in the garden to dry out then burn it.

HesterShaw · 02/01/2015 14:07

Tip for future real Christmas tree care - choose one from where they are grown on site, and then get a holder which can stand the tree in water for the duration of the Christmas period. And don't put it by a radiator. Your needle shedage will drop accordingly :)

We always store ours in the garden until it is dried out and then burn it. No point at all in landfilling a tree.

MrsMarigold · 02/01/2015 16:39

Why are people taking them down so soon twelfth night is only on Tuesday?