Needlefresh Direct are pleased to be working with Broadcaster & Chartered Horticulturist David Domoney, presenter of numerous television shows for ITV, including their flagship prime time show Love Your Garden. David has shared his thoughts below to help you make the most of your real UK grown Christmas Tree this year.
Every year the question “when are you going to put up your tree?” is posed, sometimes with a little judgement depending on whether your answer is too early or too late. But whenever you decide to put up your tree, you want to ensure you’re doing it right to make it looks its best. After all, it’s going to be around for the whole of the festive period.
Before decorating
Once you get your real cut tree home, there are a couple of things to do to ensure it’s in good condition for Christmastime. If you aren’t ready to bring your tree indoors right away, keep it standing in water outside in a sheltered spot. When you’re ready to bring it inside, cut about an inch off the bottom of the stump which will help absorption of moisture to reduce needles dropping and drooping of branches.
After trimming the stump, your Needlefresh tree can be placed into a special tree stand, like Bertie, which has enough space for water, so you can keep it topped up. When fixing the tree in place, ensure your tree is standing upright, as you don’t want one on a tilt or loose, especially if there are any curious children or pets who may make it wobble when searching for presents.
A top tip before choosing your tree is to measure the height of the space for your tree so you have a rough guide on the size you’re looking for. Bear in mind that you want to leave enough room for your tree topper, whether you go for a star, angel, or something a little more abstract. The tree can be trimmed down to size if you do end up getting one that’s a little too big.
Getting started
For the best dressed Christmas tree, it’s ideal to layer up in a well-thought-out order. Start off with lights and do a test before winding them around the tree by plugging in and checking they work.
Even choosing lights can be a tricky decision. Do you want icy white, warm orange, or multi-coloured lights for some festive fun? A top tip for positioning the lights is to switch them on when placing them, so you can see the distribution of the bulbs and ensure they’re evenly spread.
This is also the time to add anything else that is to be wound around the whole tree. This even includes beads and tinsel if that is the style you desire. Some people are not on team tinsel, but you want your Christmas tree to be perfect for you.
The second step when dressing the tree may seem like an odd choice. But, putting the tree topper on at the start is actually easier than as the finishing touch. When your tree is fully festooned with lights and baubles, it may be difficult to fix the topper. So, doing it first will eliminate this problem.
Deck the halls
There are so many design schemes to choose from, including classic cottage Christmas and colourful kitsch designs. So, whatever décor you decide to deck the halls with, there are some things to consider when hanging decorations on the tree.
Firstly, it’s likely that you have accumulated different decorations over the years. There may be some delicate glass baubles or sentimental handmade ornaments. With heavier baubles, start adding these towards the inside the tree to ensure the branches are balanced. From here, work outwards, adding baubles in clusters which can help to add another dimension. If you have different styles of baubles or decorations, cluster a few different ones together to draw the eye to these sections to emphasise their beauty.
In terms of size, it can have a great impact to use larger baubles towards the bottom of the tree, gradually decreasing in size towards the top. Leave your key ornaments to the end to ensure they get a good spot. This is ideal for any sentimental décor including ones that have been handmade by family members, or personalised ones that mark a special occasion.
As well as general hanging decorations, picks and sprays can be used to add something a little different to the display. With flexible materials, these can be changed to suit the size and shape of the tree. There are sprays of colourful berries, or frosted foliage to transform your living area into a winter wonderland.
When it’s all over
You don’t want to get in a tangle with all the decorations, so I recommend taking them down and storing them well by wrapping the lights around flat pieces of cardboard. Baubles can be kept in the boxes they were bought in, or in boxes with plenty of newspaper, tissue paper, or bubble wrap to keep delicate decorations safe.
Whatever your design, you’ll want your tree to look good all season long. By dressing your Christmas tree using these top tips, you’ll have a professional looking tree in no time.
During the festive period, there’s no better feeling than waking up and being greeted by the delicious pine scent in your home. Make the most of it by caring for your tree with these top tips that will help it stick around and not drop needles, so you have a fantastic tree over Christmas.
With these top tips, you can make the most out of your Christmas tree, whether you opt for a cut tree or a pot-grown variety. Bringing a real tree into your home will not only bring the magical essence of Christmas but a wonderful fragrance too that will conjure up many happy memories.
Needlefresh was formed by a group of serious growers of real Christmas trees, who wanted to ensure their trees were delivered direct from their plantations to your home. Needlefresh have real Christmas trees available for sale to the trade throughout the UK, straight from our specialist growers.
MORE ABOUT NEEDLEFRESH
Every tree has a story that starts many years before it reaches your home. Learn how our growers care for your Needlefresh Christmas tree throughout its life.
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