GARDEN ADVICE

How To Choose & Look After a Real Christmas Tree

Tradition has it that Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to England from his native Germany where decorating a fir tree at Christmas was a well established custom. However, it now appears that the introduction of the Christmas tree was not one of Prince Albert's many legacies to this country. Apparently the Christmas tree was introduced to this country during the previous Century or maybe even earlier. This makes sense given that from 1714 Britain was presided over by a succession of Hanoverian monarchs. George III's, Queen Charlotte certainly had a decorated and lit fir tree in the palace at Christmas. However it was Victoria and Albert who made the custom popular. They would decorate the tree themselves and place presents underneath. This image of domestic felicity was widely published and enthusiastically copied by Victoria's subjects far and wide.

These days there are many very good artificial Christmas trees available. However, nothing compares to the delicious scent and colour of a real Christmas tree. Whilst the Norway Spruce, the traditional Christmas tree, is very widely available and the cheapest variety it does tend to drop its leaves fairly liberally. The dark green bushy Nordman trees have become very popular in recent years. They are advertised as non-needle drop and they do retain their needles very well although it is inevitable that some needles will fall, especially in warm centrally heated rooms.

Christmas trees are very much grown as a crop. They are fast growing and each year the crop is harvested in November. Therefore whether you buy a tree at the beginning of December or on Christmas Eve, it will probably have been harvested at the same time and the best choice is to be had earlier on.

To help a cut tree take up water and retain its needles it is a good idea to saw the end off the tree at the base of the trunk when you get it home. It is much the same concept as cutting the very bottom off the stalks of fresh flowers before placing them in a vase. The Christmas tree should be placed in a bucket of water and kept outside until it is time to bring it into the house to be decorated. Even inside the house the tree needs to be watered.

Potted trees are also available. The advantage of these is that you do not need to cut the end of the tree or put it into a pot or stand. You can just bring it indoors in its pot. Potted trees have some roots and the soil in the pot will help retain moisture and should therefore assist needle retention. However, success cannot be guaranteed if the tree is subsequently planted in the garden.