Do you know your Spruce from your Fir?
Nothing creates a more special and festive atmosphere than the sight and smell of a real Christmas tree in the heart of your home over the festive season. But with many different tree varieties to choose from, it’s difficult to know which one is the best to buy. Our Christmas tree guide offers helpful advice to narrow down your search and help you find your perfect tree.
Top Tips
Before you purchase your Christmas tree we would advise you to:
1. Decide where you will put your Christmas tree
- Choose a spot that is away from a radiator or away from any direct heat source as this will reduce the lifetime of your tree
- Consider if it is close to a plug socket, as you will probably want to plug in your fairy lights
After Christmas we recommend you recycle your Christmas tree, please read our article here.
2. Measure both the width and height of the space
- Don’t forget about the size of the floor space and the height of the room. If you are limited on the space you may consider opting for a narrow, slender variety such as the Fraser Fir.
- When measuring the height, don’t forget to include the additional height of the tree topper!
- It’s always difficult to judge the size of a Christmas tree when you are in a shop or garden centre so it’s always best to bring a tape measure to avoid any disappointment when you get home.
3. Now you can choose your tree…
Choosing the Type of Christmas Tree
There are many varieties available to buy both online, from a garden centre, DIY or tree farm. In the UK you are more likely to find Firs and Spruces than other varieties. Here are some of the most common varieties to choose from:
FIR
A Nordmann Fir (Abies Nordmanniana) is an excellent needle retaining tree with soft and glossy dark green rounded needles. This has possibly surpassed the Spruce in the UK for the most popular Christmas tree and is an excellent choice if you have small children or pets.
The Fraser Fir (Abies Fraseri) soft green/silver needle slim conical shape is perfect for smaller spaces. Its wonderful fragrance will last the entire festive season – adding to the magical ambience that Christmas brings.
The Noble Fir (Abies Procera / Abies Nobilis) is known for its beauty, with its stunning green/blue foliage and pleasant fragrance. It’s a huge popularity variety due to its long keep ability and stiff branches making it a perfect tree for displaying larger and heavier ornaments.
SPRUCE
The Norway Spruce is the most traditional tree in the UK. Although it is a very beautiful and traditional looking tree, it does have a tendency to drop its needles particularly towards the end of the festive period. Therefore this variety might be less suitable around small children and pets.
The Blue Spruce has an attractive colour and if watered regularly will hold its needles better than the Norwegian variety. It will still drop needles if it’s in a warm room, but it’s beautifully symmetrical and will support many heavy decorations.
The Serbian Spruce (Picea Omorika) has denser branches than the Norway spruce. Its lovely narrow shape makes it ideal for smaller, narrower spaces. This naturally, full and ornamental looking tree looks lovely when decorations are kept minimal.
For our top tips on how to look after your Christmas tree read our December Gardening Jobs Article.
After Christmas we recommend you recycle your Christmas tree, please read our article here.
