Buy a potted tree and it will last you for years
Do you choose a real tree or an artificial one? Don’t be put off by the mess – here’s how to keep a real tree at its best or even better, buy a potted one. A live tree’s reputation of dropping needles comes from two main sources: the only trees you used to get were Picea abies (Norway spruce).
This was made much worse by trees not being watered.
Think of a Christmas tree as a huge vase of flowers – you wouldn’t leave that without water, would you?
If you decide on a live cut tree (without roots), the bestselling “nondrop” tree is the Nordmann fir.
The blue spruce has an attractive colour, and holds its needles well.
The Douglas fir can cost more than others, while the balsam fir holds its needles even as its branches dry out.
The lodgepile pine is a more upright tree for narrower spaces.
When picking a tree, make sure it seems healthy and relatively free of brown needles.
Cut an inch or so off the bottom of the trunk to ensure the tree will absorb water in its stand.
This should be done less than an hour before putting the tree in the stand.
Check regularly to make sure the tree has enough water.
Do not put the tree near a window, fireplace, radiator, stove or other source of heat as this will increase the chance of the tree rapidly drying out.
Your other option is a live tree with a rootball.
Obviously, because of the weight, you’re going to get a much smaller tree (and they’re expensive), but the advantage is you can plant it outside in the garden when you’re finished.
However, if a live rootball tree is inside for longer than 10 days, it will be less likely to survive once planted.
Before bringing it inside, put it in the garage or in the porch for a few days, so it is not as shocked by the temperature difference.
You’ll want to do the same when bringing it back outside.
Environmentally-wise, most trees come from Christmas tree farms, not natural forests, and are replaced.
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