David Domoney's top tips for keeping your Christmas tree looking its best.

9 December 2022

Top tree tips

Get into the Christmas spirit and enhance the festive cheer within your home by using my tips to keep your tree looking its best, as well as introducing festive plants.

 

Oh, Christmas tree

The Christmas tree is an iconic symbol of the festive season. This essential part of Christmas becomes a member of the family for the winter months, with its tall structure and familiar woodland fragrance.

 

A gift from Bavaria

The UK's fascination with Christmas trees began in 1841 when Prince Albert brought a fir tree home from Germany for Queen Victoria. Since then, their popularity has continued to grow.

 

The beautiful scent of a real tree

But there is always the debate of whether to have a real or artificial tree, and there’s no denying that the uniqueness of a real tree is a magical experience for the family. Although, you may be worried about the needle drop of these tremendous trees.

 

Choose wisely

 

However, to prevent a green carpet of needles covering the floor and presents under the tree, consider Abies nordmanniana (Nordmann fir) which is well-known for its needle retention.

Another option is the Abies fraseri (Fraser fir) which is similar in ways to Picea abies (Norway spruce), but the former has better needle retention. It has upturned needles and the classical Christmas tree form, for the perfect structure in your living room.

Then, there’s the traditional Norway Spruce, which tends to be a cost-effective tree, but bear in mind that it’s prone to dropping needles.

 

No needle drop

Whichever type of tree you choose, there are a few top tips to reduce the likelihood of needles dropping. Firstly, when choosing your tree, pick the freshest tree you can find. The branches and needles should be attached firmly and springy with lots of life in them.

 

Put it straight in a bucket of water

After transporting your tree back from the garden centre, it’s ideal to remove the netting and place the trunk into a bucket of water to rehydrate it. Give your tree the best position by taking into account the temperature of the space. Hot, dry air will dehydrate the Christmas tree, so steer clear of locations next to a radiator, open fire, or bright, sunny window. Instead, choose a spot that is shady and cool.

 

Keep your tree hydrated

As well as regularly refreshing the water at the trunk, plant stems can take up sugar too. Give your tree a boost by stirring a couple of spoonfuls of sugar. Or feed the tree with some full-sugar lemonade mixed with water.

 

Festive houseplants

Complement your Christmas décor with festive houseplants that will brighten up your home over the winter months and beyond. A firm festive favourite for this season is the gorgeous red Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia). With perfect Christmas colouring, this is a fantastic one to bring into your own home of gift to a loved one to enhance their cosy winter home.

 

Poinsettias are tender plants, preferring temperatures between 16-22˚C. Therefore, it’s important to get the perfect spot that’s clear of draughts such as an open door or window. Take care to not over water them, which will keep the blooms bright and beautiful into the new year.
Then, there’s Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus) which is a fantastic looking plant. They natural flower in December, with bold blooms. Native to Brazil, in our homes it’ll prefer a partially shaded spot, and will happily live in your kitchen or bathroom where the humidity levels are higher. The robustness, longevity, and low-maintenance nature of this plant makes a great addition to your festive spread.

 

Create a cosy space for the festive season with these tips that will spruce up your décor and transform it into a winter wonderland. With a happy and healthy tree and houseplants for Christmas, your home will be ready for a visit from Father Christmas

 

This month I have selected an informational video detailing how to choose the right landscaper.

Whilst at home over the festive period, why not have a think about that landscaping project you've wanted to do for sometime now?  How would you start to select a good landscaper?

Pavestone's Expert Landscaper Mark Brown and I take a look at some of the pitfalls to avoid in this short video.

 

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