Fir Christmas’s sake choose the right tree
Eight million Christmas trees are sold in Britain every year – but how many of us know which type of fir will best suit our needs, or even that there are distinct types?
So you have to choose carefully – decisions, decisions.
Rhere are four main types sold in the UK and each has different merits.
The Nordmann fir has a glossy green colour and big needles which are soft, making it suitable for those families with young children likely to touch it.
It’s more expensive than the Norway spruce which has that classic rich, fresh Christmas fragrance and a structured shape.
These are inexpensive but their needles are sharper and tend to fall off and its sap is very sticky.
It won’t mess up your house but you’ll get it on your hands lugging it home.
The less popular options, however, are the Fraser fir and the Noble fir.
The Fraser has a blue-green colour and is narrower, so ideal if you have less space.
It has dense foliage, so not ideal for bauble lovers but lovely if you just want tinsel and lights.
The Noble fir is thickstemmed, which can make it a struggle if you’re using a tree stand but it has better spaced foliage.
You get what you pay for with a Christmas tree, price does tend to indicate quality.
More expensive ones are likely to have been hand-trimmed before being cut down or dug up, so are in a good shape.
Ideally, the tree should be a shiny, glossy green.
Watch the wrapping – a readywrapped tree might seem helpful but don’t buy these.
It’s vital to look at the tree’s shape out of the netting in case it’s wider than you want or uneven.
Without seeing it unwrapped, you don’t know what you’re getting.
Any respectable seller will unwrap and rewrap the tree for no extra charge.
Wear gardening gloves to handle it and be careful of the tip which can be damaged easily.
Treat it like cut flowers – once home, cut 2cm or 3cm from the stump using a handsaw. It’s easier than you think and helps the tree take up moisture, like trimming cut flowers.
Then place it in a tree stand that holds water and generously water every day.
It can drink two litres daily, depending on room temperature. And unlike cut flowers, don’t add sugar.
If you want a live tree to plant afterwards, choose a pot-grown version as these have a better chance of living, since the roots are whole.
All Christmas trees are grown from seeds not cuttings.
Vitally, whichever type you buy, do not unwrap the tree until it’s secure, otherwise you’ll be fighting branches.
Then leave it to stand for 24 hours before decorating so the branches settle.
And keep it cool – putting a tree close to a radiator will dry it out.