How to look after your Christmas tree and getting the best out of your Christmas trees.

Looking after Christmas Trees - or at least the ones without roots on - is a a little bit like looking after cut-flowers. If you don't provide them with water, then they will wilt. In the case of the Christmas Tree, this usually takes the form of Needle Drop! So, this is how you should be looking after your Christmas tree.

Most people will know about crushing the cut stems of cut flowers to enable them to take in water. In the case of the Christmas Tree, crushing the stem is out of the question, but we are all aware of the sticky resin that can exude from conifer stems.

In the case of the Christmas tree, this will harden at the cut off end making it even more difficult for the tree to take in moisture.

So make sure that you cut off around 50mm (2 inches) of the stem, to give a new start to the tree and enable it to take in moisture to see it through it's two or three weeks of totally alien surroundings. (Indoors, usually near a radiator, and draped with Christmas Fairy lights that give off a lot more heat than we realise. Just imagine having a 'necklace' of those lights if you have been used to cool living conditions.

Looking after your Christmas Tree - A few hints.

Do not bring your Christmas tree indoors until you really have to.
The tree - like cut flowers - will need to be placed in a container with it's stump in water. There are many Christmas Tree stands that do this job quite well. The other option is to place the tree in a waterproof bucket, and wedged in with old newspapers and large stones to make sure that it is secure. Make sure that the tree is NOT too heavy at the top for the container!
Throughout the period indoors, make sure that the tree is well watered, but DO TAKE CARE if there are electric lights on the tree - and also be careful not to splash the plug socket - often near the tree - when watering. Keep the your Christmas Tree as far away from radiators that you can.

Types of Christmas Trees include...........

The Scots Pine - Pinus sylvestris. A s a young tree this is totally different to the older majestic pines that are seen throughout the UK. If grown as a Christmas Tree, the grower will normally clip the foliage on whilst in the growing stage to get it to branch out and form a well shaped densely-foliaged Christmas Tree. Even as an unclipped tree, this is a good tree for the larger room. It holds it's needles very well. Out of the UK grown Christmas Trees, this is one of the better.
The Nordmann Fir - Abies Nordmanniana. One of the most popular of all Christmas trees with it's silvery foliage. A good specimen will grace any living room and keep it's needles well. It is not always well-shaped - sometimes a big bottom and lanky top. Often sold as a 'netted' tree. Best to unwrap it if possible, or have a feel inside the net at the middle and top of the tree to ensure that you are not being sold a long stalk wiith a few branches at the top.
The Norway Spruce - Picea abies. This is the most common of Christmas trees with its mid to dark green foliage that is normally well spread out on a well grown tree. It tends to be to warm in UK to grow this tree really well - unless pruned in the growing seasons. It can end up as a long stem - devoid of branches from midway up. It is not the best tree for needle retention, and whilst popular, it is probably the main cause of people transferring allegiance over to the artificial options. The best specimens I have seen have been imported from Belgium where they have been grown in the Ardennes area.
Blue Spruce - Picea pungens 'Glauca'. Normally sold as a garden ornamental in it's many superb forms - see the foliage image above. If you get one of these, try to get it as a pot-grown specimen, so that you can plant it out in the garden afterwards.
Dwarf Christmas Tree or Table Top tree. This is normally the perfectly conical Picea albertina 'Conica'. A perfect specimen for a tabletop decoration. If planted out afterwards, keep an eye out for red spider infestation.
Artificial Christmas Trees - Assorted. As with silk flowers, the artificial Christmas Tree is now a serious contender for a place in the lounge - or outdoors. They are superb, need no caring for, and can be used year after year with no mess. I understand that one enterprising Chinese manufacturer is supplying trees that have a needle drop function built into them. :-)