No festive scene is complete without a Christmas tree, beautifully adorned with baubles and twinkling lights. Those who insist on having a real fir should be prepared for extra upkeep, however, as they need a lot of TLC throughout the festivities. Even if you picked the world's healthiest tree, you could soon find fallen needles scattered everywhere.
Thankfully, horticulturalist Monty Don has shared his top tips for caring for Christmas trees - and it turns out there's a common mistake many people do not know they are making. But with one small adjustment, Christmas lovers will be able to better care for their trees and avoid unsightly bare branches.
It's all to do with where you place your Christmas tree, as there's one spot you should never put it in, according to the pro. The BBC Gardeners' World presenter shared the useful tip in a post to his blog, as per the Express.
Don began by explaining Norway Spruce (picea abies), The Nordman Fir (Abies nordmanniana,) and the Colorado Spruce (picea pungens) are the most popular Christmas trees. "All three are very good, have specific virtues and can last for a long Christmas season if looked after properly," he wrote.
So, how should you care for your tree? "NEVER place your Christmas tree by a radiator. It will respond by immediately shedding its needles," warned Don. "Keep it as cool as possible. All these evergreen firs have adapted to cope with cold winter weather and will react to central heating heat by dropping their leaves in order to conserve moisture." He added that a draughty hallway would make an ideal pick.
The expert also shared advice on how best to reuse or recycle your tree after Christmas. The beauty of opting for a real tree is that you can replant it after the festive season. During the tree's brief stay inside your home, take care of it by potting the tree in a large container filled with compost or sharp sand.
"Sand is perfectly good for the few weeks it will be indoors. Water it and keep the sand moist," Don recommended. If you don't plant to plant it, however, Don suggests taking the tree to a council shredder, so it can be recycled.
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