The right moment to put up a real Christmas tree is still a matter of taste, but a grower who supplies homes across the United Kingdom says buying one in mid-November is a mistake, the BBC reported. Tesco began selling trees at half-price this week and said more than 90% of its trees had sold out by the end of November last year. Lidl and some other retailers are launching ranges next week, while Dobbies Garden Centres is waiting until the last week of November. Christmas Day is still six weeks away. Mick Walker, of Bolton Christmas Trees, which grows trees in the Scottish Highlands, warned: "It might last until the beginning of Christmas, but it won't last the full holiday. Unless its a potted one, it's going to be sagging by Christmas Day - big time." He called Tesco's half-price deal "insane," adding that it is "sucking them into buying something now that isn't going to do the job."
Walker's own advice is later. "If it was me, I'd put it up a week before Christmas eve, [and it will] last straight through until New Year." The Royal Horticultural Society says cut trees should usually last about four weeks with the right care, though some retailers suggest four to six weeks. Walker recommended keeping the tree watered, spraying the leaves, and placing it in the coolest spot in the room, away from radiators. Forestry England also suggests sawing about half an inch (1.2 cm) off the base of the trunk when you get it home, to remove hardened sap so the tree can take up more water. "Your beautiful tree just wants a constant supply of fresh water - it's that simple," the agency says.
The most popular trees in the UK are Nordmann firs, a non-drop variety that holds its needles. Norway spruce is another common type, with a strong pine scent, but it generally needs more careful watering. Pine trees, Walker said, last the longest, though he conceded they lack the classic Christmas look. The argument is less about when decorations may go up than about how long a cut tree will stay presentable if it is bought on a mid-November discount and then sits in a heated room until the New Year.
The verified guidance is a grower's and two official horticultural sources' advice, not a ban on early shopping. Anyone who wants a cut tree to still look decent on Christmas Day, Walker says, should wait until about a week before Christmas Eve, keep it cool, and keep the water topped up.