Top Care Tips for Real Christmas Trees

With the festive season only five weeks away the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) sent us through its top tips on how to care for real Christmas trees, making sure they keep looking fresher for longer.

• Buy a newly cut British grown Christmas tree from a local BCTGA member for guaranteed freshness. Please visit www.bctga.co.uk to source

• Trees come in all shapes and sizes. Choose one that fits into the designated space in the home

• Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible and store in a cool location until needed

• Cut about ½ inch off the butt to open the tree pores before placing the Christmas tree in a water retaining stand and moving it indoors

• Keep the 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 per day thereafter

• Inspect light sets before placing them on the tree (replace if worn), and always turn off the lights when leaving the house or when going to bed

Wondering which tree to get?

• For the all-rounder, a Nordman Fir is perfect as it offers a fresh scent and keeps its needles very well. It is currently the UK’s favourite Christmas tree, representing more than 50% of sales each year

• Minimalists will love the Serbian spruce with a sleek profile that compliments any modern space beautifully

• The avant-garde will be drawn to the Blue Spruce as its metallic-blue sheen boasts originality

• Traditionalist may opt for one of the Pines – Lodgepole and Scots – or a Norway Spruce as they hold that ideal Christmas tree aroma, certain to bring back memories of years gone by

May gardening jobs

The weather hasn’t exactly be great over the last few days, but we’re all promised at least a little bit sunshine this weekend. So what better than a perfect excuse to get yourself out in the garden and get on with a few of those jobs you’ve been meaning to get round to. They’re all pretty quick and simple, so you should get them done before the rain returns!

• Lettuce and mixed salad leaves, carrots, and beetroot can all be sown outside now. Courgettes and squash should be sown in pots on the windowsill, or in mounds of soil enriched with compost or manure.
• Watch out for frosts at night and cover any tender plants with fleece or polythene.
• Keep the hoe going up and down the rows, to keep weeds at bay before they have a chance to take hold.
• Water thirsty crops in the evening if the soil is dry, but not when the sun is high as it’s a waste of water and might burn tender foliage.
• If you didn’t get round to sowing tomatoes, peppers and aubergine earlier in the year, check out your local garden centre as they will have some interesting varieties for planting out when all danger of frost is past.

Thanks to Judy Maciejowska our resident Vegetable Gardening expert. Read more of her gardening advice in the Gardening Section of BookshelfBoyfriend.com.