It may only be the middle of November, but it’s never too soon to be thinking about Christmas trees.
We all have our own preferences for Christmas tree. There’s the artificial one up in the loft that’s got perfectly even-spaced branches, realistic-looking “needles” that will never drop and can be re-used year after year, but for me, it’s the real thing that does it. To me it wouldn’t be Christmas without that fresh pine scent each morning as the tree welcomes me into the room – I don’t even mind the sharp prickles of the needles as I brush against it to hang the fairy at the top. So for me, the choice is simple when it comes to real or artificial – but did you know there’s more than one choice of a real tree?
Real, living Christmas trees far and wide are being cut down ready for delivery into garden centres and stores right now, and pot-grown or potted trees are already out to be re-homed – but which one is best for you? There are many different reasons for buying either type of tree so here are a few simple things to think about to help you choose the right one…
Cut Trees
Cut Christmas trees have usually been grown in the ground on a tree farm and have already been cut from their roots for you. This usually happens around mid-November. Like a bouquet of flowers in a florist, they’ve been cut and prepared for you, but they won’t last forever.
You can find cut trees almost anywhere – garden centres, roadsides and even out the front of your local supermarket chain. You’ll find much larger trees available to choose from than those that come in a pot. This is because they have been grown in the ground and their roots will not have been restricted.
You’ll often find cut trees are the cheapest type of tree too. It’s much easier to grow trees in the ground to cut than it is to nurture pot-grown trees.
Choosing Your Tree
When choosing your cut tree, be sure to take care and check for damage to branches. Try lifting the tree so you can see all the way around it. If it’s light to lift then that’s a good indicator that the tree is de-hydrated and unlikely to last. Make sure to check that the needles don’t easily drop off. Cut trees can be sat in garden centres for weeks so don’t leave it too late to buy your tree. Choose your tree as early as possible so you can take it home in its netting. This way you will know it’s not being man-handled, damaged or deprived of water. Let it sit in a bucket of water in a cool, shaded spot in your garden. This will ensure it’s fully hydrated when you bring it indoors closer to Christmas.
Cut trees will usually last for up to 3-4 weeks in the home with good care. When you bring it indoors, cut half an inch off the bottom. This is to re-open up the tree’s pores that will have closed when it was originally cut down. Place indoors in a spot away from any direct heat sources, like a radiator, and sit in a water-holding container.
Remember to keep the water topped up daily – you’ll be surprised how much it can drink!
Pot-Grown Christmas Trees
Pot-grown Christmas trees are ideal if you’re feeling green and you don’t want to throw away your tree each year. As the name suggests, they’ve been grown in a pot, and are delivered in a pot as a living specimen. Easy to find, but somewhat more expensive to buy, pot-grown trees are brought indoors for the festive season and decorated like a normal tree. You can then re-plant them back outside when Christmas is over and to continue to grow for seasons to come. They can be left to grow outdoors and dressed up next year with lights or brought back inside.
Our pot-grown trees have been grown in perforated pots in the ground to benefit from the warmth of the soil. They’re then lifted and re-potted into a sturdy transportation pot when ready to be sold and delivered. This means they benefit from not having their roots cut, however, restricted by the pot, you won’t find great big tall trees available to smother in decorations.
Looking After Your Pot Grown Tree
Pot-grown trees should be brought indoors as late as possible and only kept indoors for a couple of weeks. They will need daily watering and should be kept away from any radiators, heaters or direct sunlight. Then you just need to decorate your tree and enjoy the festive period! The best part is, instead of throwing your tree away at the end of the season, take it back outside and either re-pot or plant it directly into the ground. Keeping it in a pot will contain the roots and control the size of the tree. Whereas planting into the ground will allow the roots to spread and the tree to grow. It really is up to which you’d prefer, but remember, trees left to grow in the ground can grow very large, very quickly!).
So remember, a tree doesn’t have to just be for Christmas – but whichever tree you choose, with good care and plenty of water, you’ll be rewarded with a long-lasting, magical display to enjoy this festive season…
Check out our pot-grown Norway Spruce Christmas Trees here.
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