Celebrity gardener David Domoney shares his top tips for preparing a real Christmas tree ahead of the festivities—and has also come equipped to debunk some of the most common misconceptions when buying them.
The festive season is right around the corner, and before we know it, we’ll be decking the halls. While a good portion of us prefer to just go down the route of buying the perfect artificial Christmas tree and calling it a day (guilty), there are plenty who enjoy the task of caring for a real Christmas tree throughout the holiday.
Since this weekend marks the time when all Christmas trees arrive in Britain, David Domoney has some advice he believes everyone should know before bringing a real Christmas tree home.
David Domoney’s Real Christmas Tree Tips
Speaking with Suitable Home about real Christmas tree care, we asked the English horticultural expert for his best advice on caring for a real fir this season. Here’s what he had to say regarding the best time to buy a real Christmas tree:
“Here’s the big tip,” David begins. “All Christmas trees come into Britain on the same weekend, which is the last weekend in November. So, those who say, ‘I’ll wait until just before Christmas so I get a fresher tree’—it’s the same tree that will be in the garden centre, just with fewer options,” he warns.
Did you hear that, folks? There’s no such thing as a ‘fresher tree’ in itself. What you’re really risking is being spoiled for choice when it’s time to select a tree.
“So, what you want to do is buy your tree early.”
David Domoney’s Real Christmas Tree Care Tips
“Bring it home and cut an inch off the bottom of the stump,” David continues. “It’s the same thing you do with cut flowers to expose the cells so the plant can take up water. Once it’s cut, it starts to heal, much like how we scab, if you know what I mean.”
“Then, put the tree into a bucket of water in your yard. I would take the netting off so the tree starts to open up again and just leave it in your yard.”
Now comes the part of waiting if you want a fresher-looking tree…
“At the latest time possible—the later, the fresher it will look—you bring it inside,” David advises. “Put it in a Christmas tree stand that has a combination of water and sugar in it because the tree will benefit from the food in the sugar. Then, place it far from any heat sources like a radiator or similar.”
David also recommends checking out NeedleFresh.co.uk, which represents many British farmers. You can find lots of great advice and videos there to help bring your Christmas tree ideas to life.
He concludes, “Just make sure your tree is topped up with water, as it will look fresher throughout the Christmas season for longer.”