When to buy

Knowing when to buy your real Christmas for the holidays is important, but it depends on how you want to present your tree and for how long. Buying your tree on the right day will make sure that it lasts for as long as you want it to, so deciding when you want to take your tree down is crucial when it comes to not only buying the right tree but when to buy it!

If you’re a lover of a traditional Christmas, then your tree should always be set up on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and if follow the Twelfth Night, then you should buy your Christmas tree around December 2nd, so your tree will still look healthy by the time the Twelfth Night comes around. However, if you like to take your tree down between Christmas and New Years then we recommend the earliest time to buy your tree would be November 28th to ensure your tree looks lovely the whole way through Christmas!

Set up

Setting up your tree is the most important step once you get your new tree home, but if you aren’t looking to set your real tree up straight away be sure to keep it in a cool, dry place with the trunk placed in a bucket of water to keep it fresh. If you’re looking to set your tree up when you bring it home, always ensure you have a suitable stand to go with your new tree!

Firstly, before you cut the netting off of your tree you’ll need to trim the trunk. It is recommended that you cut roughly 3cm off the bottom, this is to ensure that the tree can easily absorb water and stay fresh throughout the season. When you begin to untie and unravel you tree, you’ll want to give it a good shake (outside to avoid mess indoors!) to help ensure all those loose needles drop and help the branches drop and settle into place before you decorate!

When it comes to the finding the perfect spot – check that your tree isn’t being placed near radiators or open flames. This will make a huge difference on helping make your tree last throughout Christmas as it will prevent it from drying out too quickly! This will result in more needles dropping, and later lead to a sad looking when Father Christmas arrives with your presents!

If you’ve purchased a full tree, consider trimming a few branches back or down to the trunk to make your tree appear in a more traditional shape. Not only will this change the shape of your tree but reduce the amount of branches that require water and provide you with trimmings to decorate various other places within your home!

Always make sure that your tree regularly watered – this will prevent branches from drooping and looking worse for wear!

Check your tree!

When using a real Christmas tree for the holidays it’s important to think about safety when placing lights on to your tree. Inspect your lights before placing them onto your tree by checking there are no worn wires and that they are safe to use. Not only will checking your Christmas lights (and keeping your tree from drying out) prevent any unwanted fires but it will also help you spot any broken lights or tired lights before you tangle them into your tree, saving you the hassle of pulling them out of your tree once you have realised that some bulbs are no longer working.

Maintenance

Keeping a real Christmas tree doesn’t come without maintenance! To keep it looking and feeling fresh throughout Christmas, your Christmas tree will require up-to 3 pints of a water a day (yes, a day!) as you don’t want to water level to drop below the bottom of the trunk as the sap will harden and stop your tree from absorbing water.

Keeping your tree watered will also help keep the tree from drying out – this is especially important when using lights on your tree as to avoid any unwanted fire hazards.

As Christmas approaches, you may need to sweep occasionally beneath the tree for any needle dropping, but keeping your tree hydrated daily with water will ensure that the needle drop across the season is minimal.

At the end of the Christmas season, always ensure that you dispose of your Christmas tree correctly. Many councils offer a Christmas tree drop off location or collection so always check with them on their websites to see what your local council may be offering. Alternatively, those who are able to chop down and cut their trees can pop them into a garden waste bin!