Guide to choosing the perfect real Christmas tree and keeping it perfect!

Find your spot

First things first, decide where your tree will go. The ideal spot is a corner away from direct heat and safe from excited toddlers, tail-wagging pets and merry adults.
If you are using mains powered tree lights, accessibility to a plug socket if necessary. Once you have the spot, measure up. Remember the extras you will need for displaying and decorating your tree, a tree topper will add heights as will a stand or table if you use one. Also measure the width of your space. We recommend you bring a tape measure when you buy your tree as whilst heights will be clearly marked on labels, widths vary!

Which Species?

Years ago buying a tree was relatively simple and you just had one choice of variety. Nowadays there are many varieties so here is our handy guide:

Nordman Fir

This is by far the most popular Christmas tree variety in the UK, best known for its fantastic needle holding ability. These trees have impressive glossy, rich green foliage on tiered branches, perfect for displaying large and decorative baubles. Soft needles make it a family-friendly choice. Its needle holding ability is also a key benefit.

We have cut Nordman Firs in the following sizes:

120-150cm £26.00

150-180cm £37.00

180-210cm £50.00

210-240cm £70.00

240-270cm £90.00

Taller trees available, please call to order.

We also have pot grown Nordman Firs starting from £50 for a 100-125cm tall tree.

Fraser Fir

Splendid for smaller spaces due to its slimmer, conical shape, the Fraser fir also has a delicious balsam scent which fills the room for the entire festive period. The needles are green to silver in colour (on bushy branches) and have good needle retention. Please note that despite the scent, Fraser Firs not the same as a Balsam Firs which will drop their needles easily!

We have small 60-80cm Pot Grown Fraser Fir trees available for £35.00

 

 

 

Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce is considered the oldest traditional Christmas tree. These are bushy in shape with short, light green needles and a lovely pine scent. You must keep these trees well watered to keep needledrop to a minimum. The needles are sharper than those of the Nordman and Fraser but the trees are the cheapest to buy.

We have the following cut Norway Spruces for sale:

100-125cm £18.00

120-150cm £22.00

150-180cm £25.00

180-210cm £31.00

210-240cm £36.00

We also have 125-175cm pot grown Norway Spruces for £40.00

Blue Spruce

These Christmas trees have a silvery green to blue colour. They are pretty and have dense branches. They will hold their needles slightly better than a Norway spruce if watered regularly. Needles are one of the sharpest so we don’t advise this variety for young children.

We have pot grown Blue Spruce trees (80-100cm) available for £37.00.

Omorika (Serbian Spruce)

The Omorika has dense branches and charming two-tone green and blue foliage giving it a decorative edge. A lovely narrow shape, it is ideally suited to smaller spaces and if bought in a pot it’s even easier to prepare for your magical Christmas. We have them as 125-175cm pot grown at £45.00 each.

What to look out for when choosing your real tree

Whichever variety you choose, you will want to make sure you buy a healthy tree. There are a few things you can look out for:

1. The tree should have a good fragrance and an attractive good green colour.
2. Avoid very light weight and dry trees and steer clear of trees with a lot of browning needles.
3. Take hold of a branch about six inches from the tip between your thumb and forefinger, gently pull your hand toward you allowing the branch to slip through your fingers, needles should stay on the branch.
4. Bump the base end of the tree lightly against the ground to see if any outside needles fall off, if only a few drop off, the tree is fresh.
5. Branches should be strong enough to hold decorations and strings of lights.
Cut or Pot Grown?
If you’re worried about space and time, pot grown trees are ideal. They offer the instant solution for the busy Christmas season and can come in attractive coloured pots. Do keep them well watered while in the house and protect your furniture by using a saucer under the pot. If well looked after they can be planted out in the garden after Christmas, but please note that the tree must be pot grown and not potted. The difference is, potted trees have been lifted from a field and placed into a pot whereas pot grown trees have been grown from seed in a pot all their life and therefore will have a good, undamaged root system.
Cut trees should be treated like a cut flower and need plenty of frequent watering, but once decorated you’ll have a beautiful festive focal point for all to admire. Check that your tree stand is big enough to stably hold your tree.

Care once you are home

With cut trees, keep your Christmas tree outside in a sheltered area, preferably standing in water, until you are ready to bring it indoors. Prepare the base of the tree by cutting about a half inch to an inch (1.3cm-2.5cm) off the bottom with a saw. This helps aid water absorption. Mount your tree as soon as possible after cutting the base, onto its stand. Keep it watered daily.

With pot grown trees, keep your Christmas tree outside in a sheltered area until you are ready to bring it in. Put the pot in a saucer and maybe a protective mat to protect your surface from scratching or water damage. Water your tree frequently.

Order your tree online

BUY YOUR TREE ONLINE NOW

We work with our suppliers to provide you with a direct delivery service. You pick the exact tree you want from the comfort of your home and then the actual tree you chose on your screen is delivered directly to your door – anywhere in mainland UK.  Please note, prices for this convenient service will be slightly different to the prices listed above and our normal delivery charges.