Your Guide To the Perfect Christmas Tree
There’s something extra special about a real tree at Christmas, and as the festive season is nearly upon us, we wanted to help you choose the right one for you.
2 minute read
Types of tree
Depending on who you live with and how much space you have, you might want to consider the type of tree you buy. If you have pets and small children, a Nordmann Fir holds its needles well and has a dark green foliage with soft leaves. It’s recently taken over the Norway Spruce as the most popular option, as although the spruce releases a lovely scent, it drops its sharp needles quickly. The Fraser Fir is leaner which is ideal for a smaller space and the blue spruce is also a lovely option with a silver-blue foliage.
Will it fit?
Most of us have probably experienced the pain of trying to trim down a tree that is too tall, so getting your measurements right before you make a purchase is really important. Measure the distance between the floor and the ceiling using a tape measure. Be sure to account for your tree topper, the tree stand and any platform i.e. a table that you’d like to rest your tree on.
Is it healthy?
If you still want your tree looking full and fresh on Christmas Day, make sure you choose a healthy one. To test for freshness you can do several things:
Become a tree hugger – trees stop producing sap when they’re cut down, so if you can still feel the sap on the trunk, it’s a good sign.
Shake it off – hardly any needles falling means the tree is still fresh.
Bend and snap - on certain trees like Fraser Firs, a good test is to remove a needle and bend it in half. If it snaps then it means the tree is still fresh, but if it bends it was cut down a while ago.
Cut the trunk
Cutting about half an inch off your tree trunk allows ultimate water consumption and keeps your tree fresher for longer. Try and do this immediately before placing it in water, otherwise the stump gets air in the plant tissue, which lessens the water capacity. Water your tree every day.
Tree removal
Don’t worry about getting rid of your tree, as most councils offer a tree removal service and will have information on their website about when they will collect it.
