Make sure your Christmas tree is a sparkling success by choosing it carefully, then looking after it well.
Before you go shopping, decide where your tree will go and measure the space beforehand – many people buy a tree that is too wide.
Select a healthy-looking tree – it should have a good shape, and bright, shiny needles –  then pick it up. The heavier if feels, the fresher it will be as it will have lost less moisture since being cut.
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Tap the base of the tree on the ground to check for needle retention – if it drops a lot of needles, don’t buy it.
Net wrapping will protect the tree while you transport it. If it has to travel on your car roof, make sure the base faces forward to protect the foliage from any more moisture loss.
Once you get your tree home, here are four easy steps to caring for it.
You Will Need
- Bucket
- Pruning saw
- Watering can
- Shredder, (optional)
Total time:
Step 1
Retain the netting cover while you saw the trunk off level for it to stand upright. Keep the tree in a bucket of water outside for a day or two to absorb water before moving it indoors.
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Step 2
Secure the tree in a water-retaining stand in your chosen location, then release the branches from the netting. Fill the stand with water and keep the needles fresh by topping up the water every couple of days.
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Step 3
Place the tree away from direct heat, such as an open fire or a radiator for the longest possible display of fresh, scented needles. Give it plenty of space so that air can circulate around it, too.
Step 4
Many councils will collect Christmas trees for recycling. Alternatively, make good use of the tree long after Christmas by shredding the branches and collecting the shreddings to spread under shrubs in the garden, where it will act as a weed-suppressing mulch.
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