When to Put Up a Real Christmas Tree: Gardeners' and Sellers' Advice Diverges

The key facts

Tesco has started selling trees at a 50% discount; according to the company, more than 90% of its trees were sold by the end of November last year
RHS: a cut tree lives about four weeks with proper care; a seller from Bolton Christmas Trees advises putting it up a week before Christmas Eve
Care tips: fresh water, a cool spot away from radiators, cutting 1.2 cm off the trunk; cola and corn syrup are a myth

Retailers start early, but experts advise not to rush

There are about six weeks left until Christmas, but British shops have already begun selling live trees. Tesco has launched a sale with a 50% discount and reported that last year, by the end of November, it had sold more than 90% of its trees. Lidl and some other retailers are putting their range on shelves next week, while Dobbies Garden Centres is waiting until the last week of November.

How long a cut tree will last

Mick Walker of Bolton Christmas Trees, which grows trees in the Scottish Highlands, considers early purchase risky: in his words, a tree 'may survive until the start of the holidays, but will not last the whole break' and will noticeably droop by Christmas unless it is in a pot. He called the Tesco discount 'crazy' and believes it pushes people towards a purchase that 'will not do its job.' His recommendation is to put the tree up a week before Christmas Eve, so it will last until the New Year. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) estimates the lifespan of a cut tree, with proper care, at about four weeks, although some sellers claim four to six weeks. Tesco noted that its range includes both cut firs and potted trees, with care instructions on the labels; the company offers dissatisfied customers a refund.

How to extend a tree's life

Walker advises watering the tree regularly, misting the needles and keeping it in the coolest spot in the room, away from radiators. Forester Richard Cooper of Forestry England adds: before setting it up, about 1.2 cm should be sawn off the base of the trunk to remove hardened resin and improve water uptake; storing a cut tree in the shade outdoors can also extend its life — 'it depends on how impatient you are to decorate it.' Stories about cola or corn syrup in the water are called a myth by experts: according to Forestry England, the tree simply needs a constant supply of fresh water. The RHS recommends bringing potted trees home as late as possible — ideally the weekend before Christmas — and not keeping them indoors for more than 12 days.

Choosing a variety and different approaches

The most popular variety in the UK is the Nordmann fir, which does not shed its needles; the Norway spruce smells stronger but is best kept outdoors or put up shortly before the holiday. According to Walker, pines last the longest, although they look less 'classic' for Christmas. People in the country choose different strategies: Katie McDonald from Belfast has already put up an artificial tree but will replace it with a real one a few weeks before the holiday, while Steve Chapman from Merseyside traditionally travels with his family to a farm in the first week of December and chooses a tree right in the field.