Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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:
TheFourthLobster · 02/01/2015 17:03

We had ours planted in soil, we've put them in the garden now (still in their pots) and they will come back in this year and next unless they get too big. We start with a 3 foot and a 4 foot and can have them indoors until they get to 8 foot, obviously with repotting when they get much larger.

purplemeggie · 02/01/2015 18:04

Lobster - I've always wanted to do that, but never managed not to kill them with the shock of coming in with heating and then going out to frost again. What do you do to keep them alive? Dh banned me from spending a fortune on small potted trees....

Superlovely · 02/01/2015 19:04

We wheel green bin into house and chop up tree in the hall and

arlagirl · 02/01/2015 19:05

I got our six footer out today on my own....felt irrationally proud.

TheGonnagle · 02/01/2015 19:47

I cut mine up with secateurs in situ. Then we dry it in the garden and use it as kindling next year.

Original poster
snowgirl1 · 02/01/2015 19:55

Garden waste wheelie into the hall - if I can get it in through the door I think I might do that and secateur the tree up. Even better, this thread has given me (another) reason I need a wood burner installed... (and the thread made 'discussion of the day' list!) Shock

OP posts:
LIttleMcF · 02/01/2015 22:50

Any allotments nearby? We burn two or three for neighbours on our plot then use the ash in the potato trenches.

zzzzz · 02/01/2015 23:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsLindor · 03/01/2015 10:36

MrsMarigold Ours always comes down before I'm back at work.

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 03/01/2015 11:20

We're not supposed to have fires at our allotments, too close to houses.

Hester - our garden waste doesn't go to landfill it is all composted and the compost used for parks and gardens. Yes to getying a freshly cut one and using a water holding contsiner, that makes a big difference.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 03/01/2015 13:44

You pick it up then you run to the nearest exit at high speed, it's amazing! Just treat the dropped pine needles as an organic Shake and Vac. Job done.

Trumpton · 03/01/2015 17:28

Spread a dust sheet or two out ( our tree is a 9 footer ) lay the tree down and bind it up as tight as poss.
Our Hospice are doing tree pickups for a donation so I have booked them to collect it.

Notso · 03/01/2015 19:52

MrsMarigold I had the choice of taking it down today while DH took the DC out or doing it on Tuesday with the 'assistance' of my 4 DC and 18 month old DN.
It took nearly three hours, I like a full tree.

I just drag it through then Hoover up, while DH and the two big kids walk it down the park for chipping. There wasn't much needle loss at all this year so it only took a few minutes vacuuming.

Follyfoot · 03/01/2015 19:55

Wish I'd thought of the sheet trick. Ho hum, at least we will have lots of lovely crackly kindling.

Does anyone else say 'thank you' to the tree when they take it out, or is it just me Blush

Original poster
snowgirl1 · 03/01/2015 21:15

I secateured the tree in the end, with a sheet underneath. Then put the cut up tree in the garden waste bin. Still quite a lot of needles around, but at least we didn't have to put it in the car to shake off the last few needles all over the boot to take it to be shredded.

OP posts:
JWIM · 03/01/2015 22:28

We have an old double duvet that is opened out on the floor so that you place the tree in the holder on the duvet approx on the inside 'top edge' when you first put the tree up. Then at the taking out stage bring the duvet up around the tree. Once tree contained in duvet, or at least most of the main branches, then lift tree in the stand in duvet out of house. Ours goes right down the garden to a 'decaying leaves/cuttings' pile and the very occasional (no neighbours) bonfire. Minimal needles to vacuum. Just turn duvet cover inside out and shake over the tree when on the bonfire pile then I wash cover ready for next year - it is stored in the decs box.

SecretSquirrels · 04/01/2015 11:42

I cut it up and ram most of it in the garden recycling dustbin. I have a stove and it's true it makes good kindling (in fact it's scary how easily it goes up in flames). The trouble is the needles. You end up bringing them back into the house.
What I do for kindling is to keep all woody prunings all year round and laboriously cut them up into sticks about 8" long. Put in shed to dry out and it keeps us in kindling all winter.

theDudesmummy · 04/01/2015 14:03

Best solution, if you have any outdoor space at all, is a real tree in a pot! Ours has been going for nine years now and remains very healthy and happy with its lifestyle: outside for 50 weeks of the year, inside and feted for two weeks.

ThePrincessButtercup · 04/01/2015 14:18

I want DH and DS to put the tree out the front door, near the recycling bin. They want to put it out the back door. Xmas Angry

I know it's a day early but DH is having surgery tomorrow lame excuse.

Why have the festive emoticons disappeared already? Xmas Hmm

Fluffy40 · 04/01/2015 16:22

I can't go anywhere near real christmas trees , Im allergic to them, awful eczema.

MuddyWellyNelly · 04/01/2015 17:02

Oh, the duvet under it before even unwrapping it is genius. Must remember this fir next year! (Have left clever typo Wink. )

We usually shred ours then add the shreddings to outdoor pots that need acid compost. Are the branches not too full of sap for a woodburner? If not, might try the kindling idea instead.

NatalieHarding21 · 04/01/2015 18:32

Really good tips, i will keep them in my mind and they will come useful xmas 2015

KillmeNow · 04/01/2015 18:45

I always hoover ours in situ. It would have to be done anyway so cuts out the waiting period :)

Then put the bare twig down the bottom of the garden to await a fire at some point.

Girlsbrigadewashorrible · 04/01/2015 20:29

A couple of previous posters have mentioned burning their tree for kindling. This is not a good idea as pine trees are very 'tarry' and can leave creosote deposits inside your chimney which easily ignite. I have first hand experience of a nasty chimney fire and it was very frightening. Sorry to sound bossy.

unlucky83 · 04/01/2015 21:27

girls I don't think using one Christmas tree for kindling over a year is going to lead to problems ... a forest full maybe... as long as they are thoroughly dry they should fine ...
Unseasoned wood causes problems - if you use it a lot. Even if you buy it you should really check it's moisture readings...

And of course you should have your chimney swept/checked every year anyway ...