2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Charlotte Smith, Veronique Hawksworth)
With the arrival of December, Londoners are eagerly shifting their focus to the Christmas season. The joy of selecting the ideal Christmas tree is a festive tradition enjoyed by many of us, but knowing exactly where to put the tree can be tricky - particularly if you're pressed for space. Thankfully, expert advice is on hand, particularly for those lucky enough to have a bay window – a seemingly perfect niche for a Christmas tree, suggests the Mirror .
Nonetheless, experts at Gardeners Dream caution against this popular choice when it comes to real trees. Craig Wilson at Gardeners Dream offers his insight: "A bay window is often known as the best place to position a Christmas tree and rightly so, it keeps it tucked out of the way - not taking too much space away from the room - and it is on full display for neighbours. For an artificial tree, it is perfect, but for a real tree, it could be detrimental.
" He goes on to explain, "If you have a south-facing house, placing your tree in a front bay window leaves it open to sitting in the direct sunlight from those crisp, sunny, winter mornings. This can cause real trees to dry up faster. Whilst, if left alone a dried tree can still look beautiful, you run the risk of knocking it often when opening and closing bay blinds and curtains, or opening windows meaning you're likely to lose loose needles multiple times a day.
This will lead to your tree looking a little bare before the big man's even been." Check the colour Firstly, when choosing a Christmas tree, you have to ensure it'll last throughout the festive period. While you might be tempted to grab the biggest and bushiest tree, Craig suggests a simple test: "Once you have found a tree you like the look of, you need to check the colour.
If it looks a fresh, healthy green, this is a good sign, if the colour looks dull and almost matte, you might want to reconsider," he advises. He continued: "Another thing to try is bending the needles to see if they are flexible, if not and they snap then you have found a tree that is already drying up and on its way out - avoid!" Cutting the tree stump When you purchase a tree that's been uprooted, it's crucial to trim the stump once you get it home, as suggested by the expert. Given that the tree has been severed, the end of the stump might have dried slightly, making it harder for the tree to absorb the water it needs to stay fresh and healthy.
"You'll only need to remove 1.5-2cm from the base," he advised. Next, place it in a stand that allows for daily watering.
"You'll need to ensure you have a stand or tree base that can also hold water or allow you to slide a dish beneath it. Your Christmas tree will need a fresh top-up of water every single day to keep it hydrated and healthy for the full festive period. Without this, it will dry up and lose needles quickly," Craig explained.
Keep away from heat Keep it away from heat sources if you want your tree to last throughout the Christmas season. You need to think about where in your house you're placing it, ensuring it's at least three feet away from heat sources like radiators and fireplaces. "Keeping your tree cool is the key to preventing it from drying out too soon," Craig emphasised.
Don't forget to water it Lastly, don't put it in high-traffic areas if you're likely to forget to water it. Craig clarified: "This isn't super important if you manage to keep on top of your Christmas tree care, but if you are likely to forget to water it once in a while, you'll want to consider the footfall close to your tree." If your tree isn't properly watered and starts to dry out, the needles will start loosening up, making them prone to falling off with the slightest knock or brush.
"So finding a position that is out of people's way will be the best option to keep needles on your tree - even if they are a bit dry," noted Craig. Stay up to date about London's hottest events, latest restaurant openings, and best deals with our Going Out Out newsletter. Sign up HERE!.
