Real Christmas Tree

[northerner]

Never had one before cause our house was so small. Now in my new big house I could fit one in easily

How long do they last? (when should I buy it)
What do I put it in?
Do I need to do anything to it (water it and stuff)
Are they really messy when needles drop off?

Thanks!

Feeling rather festive

You can buy a holder, which clamps around the base of the trunk - there are ones with a water reservoir which help to stop it drying out.

There are ones that don't shed, can't remember the exact variety, they are more expensive, but do last.

We put ours up on 24th, and take down 12 days later, no shedding of needles. I think the good ones will last longer though.

the cheapy ones are the best, yest hey shed but they all shed, and the old fashioned cheap spruce smell fabby

we buy ours a week earlier and keep it outside or in the shed

buy one of those stands that you can put water in it keeps it fresh for ages

love a real xmas tree

we get ours about a week before,dh usually gets a really expensive one,but we get massive discount as we are wholesalers aswell.

just keep it watered,also it may help to saw the end off if it has dried so the tree can drink the water.Pain in the backside but dh does it,I wouldn't bother myself.

Lakeland do a great wooden box tree holder,sorry can't do links.

we have a nordiac pine an d it lasts 4 weeks and they're a little bit more expensive but there non droppers.

We have a cast iton clamp stand with a water res init.

We always have a real tree, put it up the weekend before Christmas. Keep it well watered and it should be fine.

When 12th night comes and you want to take it down, lay a dust sheet on the floor and then wrap the tree in it.

What do you do with it after Christmas?

Take it down to the dump on the Wetherby Road, they generally have a machine for shredding it.

Most important to cut the bottom off it to allow it to drink, as when they are cut, the bottom gums over. IMO

We take it to the tip where they recycle them. Think they make them into bark chippings or something.

Thats the worst bit really - sometimes DH takes them outside and saws them up into bin bags and then takes them. By this point though there are no needles left on - just a huge pile on the patio!

Thanks guys

We bought our first real one on Sunday and it looks fab! We got it in Homebase and also got a really clever stand that tells you when the tree needs watering.
We were told to keep it away from the radiators and just to make sure it doesn't get dry.I found it so much easier to decorate and it does look so much nicer-lets hope it's still looking good at Xmas.

Agree with others, there are slightly more expensive varities that dont drop. We normally put ours up about a week before christmas and take it down after new year. Keep watering it, it doesnt seem to take a great deal of water but keep checking. I think they look a lot nicer that artificial and smell lovely.

last year we bought ours from a garden centre where if you took it back after Chrsitmas you'd get a voucher for a fiver to be used in the garden centre.

good idea, until you get the voucher and it's not valid until MARCH. reckon most folks would've lost it by then!