Don’t fake it - Top care tips for real Christmas trees

With Christmas just a few months away The British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association offers some top tips on this season’s tree trends, advice on how to care for your tree and ways to recycle at the end of the season.

A fresh cut British grown Christmas tree not only looks fantastic but also fills your home with the traditional scent of Christmas. With so many different tree varieties now available from your local grower that suit all tastes and pockets, there is absolutely no excuse to buy an artificial tree!

This Season’s Trendiest Trees

• The Nordmann Fir is the UK’s favourite Christmas tree, representing more than 50% of sales due to its fresh scent and ability to hold its needles.

• The Serbian Spruce with its sleek profile has been a long term favourite in Central Europe and compliments beautifully a modern minimalist space.

• The Blue Spruce, with its metallic-blue sheen, will be a best seller this year as it offers sought after originality.

• How about the old favourites with the ideal Christmas tree aroma- the Pines (Lodgepole and Scots Pine) which are great needle holders and the traditional Norway Spruce.

• More unusual varieties of tree are becoming increasingly popular with those wanting to create a unique look this Christmas.

Christmas Tree TLC

• For guaranteed freshness buy a tree direct from your local BCTGA member (visit christmastree.org.uk to source). This will ensure the tree is of good quality and freshly harvested. If you are unable to go along and choose a tree yourself many growers now offer a mail delivery service.

• When deciding on a tree, check that the needles are not dull and dried up and that the branches are not brittle. Remember to gently shake the tree to ensure the outer needles are not falling off.

• Keep your fresh tree in water outside until you’re ready for it and cut about half an inch off the butt to open the tree pores before you move it in to the house.

• Keep your tree away from direct heat to prevent it drying out; expect it to absorb a gallon of water in the first twenty-four hours, and at least a quarter a day thereafter.

Why Root for British grown Christmas trees?

At a time of great environmental change, the British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association (BCTGA) offers their top reasons for decorating your home with a fresh British grown tree this Christmas.

• A British grown tree, bought from your local BCTGA member is environmentally sound – no long haul transportation is involved and all members of the BCTGA subscribe to a code of conduct which ensures their crops are sustainable and do not cause damage to the local wildlife.

• Throughout their growth cycle, Christmas trees recycle carbon dioxide by turning it into fresh oxygen – just one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people and for every tree cut this year at least one more will be planted in its place!

• Tree farms provide habitat for wildlife and several species of bird – BCTGA members take account of these habitats in the cultivation of their trees.

• Increasingly people are buying container or potted trees and replanting them in January – doing their bit for the environment and saving money on next years’ tree!

• Artificial trees are non-biodegradable and the manufacturing process contributes noxious fumes to the environment. If thrown away, artificial trees will spend centuries degrading in landfill sites and if burnt, they can release deadly toxins into the air.

• The long-haul transport of artificial trees manufactured in the Far East, impacts the environment and adds to carbon emissions.

• Generally an artificial tree only becomes more cost effective than a real tree if used for several years.

Recycling your tree

It is estimated that in London alone 976,000 Christmas trees are simply thrown away and in fact only 10% are recycled. So with that, The British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association (BCTGA) are here to offer you some alternative ways to use your tree when the season is over.

• This year 33 London boroughs are offering additional Christmas tree recycling services. To locate your nearest Reuse and Recycling centres, visit the Recycle for London website www.recycleforlondon.com

• Local authorities have been offering Christmas tree collection points and composting advice for waste, as well as DIY retailers and garden centres offering tree recycling services. Look on www.recyclenow.com and use the postcode locator.

• Contact your local council and ask them about their recycling scheme, most should offer a collection service.

There are also plenty of ways around the house that you can recycle your tree…

• You can separate the needles from the branches, dry and crumble them and then mix them with cinnamon. Put this into little bags to create a tree scented smell that will keep that Christmas feeling lingering.

• Plant your Christmas tree in the garden, so animals can inhabit there.

• You can place branches vertically around your trees to discourage unwanted animals, such as dogs, getting to your plants/trees.

• Fishpond owners have the perfect use for their tree as they can simply sink theirs to make a retreat and feeding area for their fish. Or on the other hand, if you don’t have a pond just use the chips to line your fish habitat.

• Chipping your tree is easy and useful, by doing this you can create mulch, which can be used around your trees and shrubs. If you have no need for mulch check with your local authority for their tree recycling scheme as most of them use mulch to create paths and hiking trails.

Remember, recycling is free!