With Halloween and Bonfire Night over, people are starting to think more about the next big holiday – Christmas. As people consider buying Christmas trees and where they’ll place them in their homes, experts have issued a word of caution.
For some, the luxury of a bay window is the ultimate place for a Christmas tree, sharing all its glory with neighbours and passers-by. But, experts at Gardeners Dream, say placing your tree here might actually be reducing its lifespan if you opt for a real tree.
Craig Wilson, gardening expert and founder of Gardeners Dream says: “A bay window is often known as the best place to position a Christmas tree and rightly so, it keeps it tucked out of the way – not taking too much space away from the room – and it is on full display for neighbours. For an artificial tree, it is perfect, but for a real tree, it could be detrimental.
“If you have a south-facing house, placing your tree in a front bay window leaves it open to sitting in the direct sunlight from those crisp, sunny, winter mornings. This can cause real trees to dry up faster.
“Whilst, if left alone a dried tree can still look beautiful, you run the risk of knocking it often when opening and closing bay blinds and curtains, or opening windows meaning you’re likely to lose loose needles multiple times a day. This will lead to your tree looking a little bare before the big man’s even been.”
However, Craig has provided some of his expert advice on how to make your Christmas tree last throughout the festive period, no matter where you place it. Below is a look at his top tips.
1. Check your tree before you purchase
Craig says when purchasing a Christmas tree, you want to know that it will make it to the end of the festivities. It can be easy to go tree shopping and pick the biggest, bushiest one straight off the bat, but there is something you should check before you commit.
“Once you have found a tree you like the look of, you need to check the colour. If it looks a fresh, healthy green, this is a good sign, if the colour looks dull and almost matte, you might want to reconsider,” he said.
“Another thing to try is bending the needles to see if they are flexible, if not and they snap then you have found a tree that is already drying up and on its way out – avoid!”
2. Trim the tree stump before you position it
If you are purchasing a tree that has been cut from the ground before your purchase then you will need to trim down the stump when you get it home, the expert explained. During the time it has been cut from the ground, the end of the stump will have dried up slightly, making it much harder for the tree to absorb the water it needs to stay fresh and healthy.
“You’ll only need to remove 1.5-2cm from the base,” he said.
3. Place it in a base that allows daily watering
“You’ll need to ensure you have a stand or tree base that can also hold water or allow you to slide a dish beneath it. Your Christmas tree will need a fresh top-up of water every single day to keep it hydrated and healthy for the full festive period. Without this, it will dry up and lose needles quickly,” Craig said.
4. Keep it away from heat sources
If you want your tree to last the test of Christmas time, then you need to consider where in your home you are positioning it, making sure to keep it at least 3 feet away from heat sources such as radiators and fireplaces. “Keeping your tree cool is the key to keeping it from drying out too early,” Craig stressed.
5. Don’t place it in high-traffic areas if you’re likely to forget to water it
Craig explained: “This isn’t super important if you manage to keep on top of your Christmas tree care, but if you are likely to forget to water it once in a while, you’ll want to consider the footfall close to your tree.”
If your tree starts to dry out due to lack of water, its needles will loosen, and the slightest movement can cause them to fall. If you place your tree somewhere where it is likely to get knocked or brushed past regularly, then you’ll end up with a bare tree pretty quickly.
“So finding a position that is out of people’s way will be the best option to keep needles on your tree – even if they are a bit dry,” he said.