Top Tips on Caring for Your Christmas Tree

One of the key elements of the festive season is the tree – and this year Madingley Mulch will have Christmas trees for sale from their base on the outskirts of Cambridge. Here we look at how the tradition started, the types we will have in stock, and how to care for them.

 

How it All Started

Even before Christianity, people used to hang branches of evergreen trees around the home to ward off evil spirits. However, it wasn’t until the 16^th Century that Christians in Germany began to decorate trees in their homes that the idea of the Christmas tree we know today was born.

When a Christmas tree is put up depends on the country and the culture. In some places, they are traditionally put up on the first Sunday of Advent, whereas in others, it is customary as late as Christmas Eve. The most common types of Christmas trees are firs, spruces and pines.

The Nordmann Fir

This is one of the two types (mentioned above) that we will be stocking this Christmas. The Nordmann fir is named after Finnish zoologist and botanist Alexander von Nordmann (1803-1866), who, during a spell teaching in the Ukraine, discovered the fir in the Caucasus (which also extend over Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey) in 1838. The tree was later named in his honour.

This fir has a stunning glossy foliage and retains its needles well, an important consideration when it comes to cleaning up after Christmas. The needles are also soft, which means that your children shouldn’t hurt themselves. Both of these factors make the Nordmann fir a very suitable Christmas tree for families.

The Norway Spruce

The Norway Spruce has been dubbed the classic Christmas tree. The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree – which is the most famous in the country and is donated each year by the people of Norway as thanks for support during World War II – is a Norway Spruce.

It is an evergreen conifer that can grow up to 40m in height and live for up to 1,000 years. It has full green foliage and a structured shape. And, unlike the Nordmann Fir, it really smells like a Christmas tree. The only downside of the tree is that it is more prone to dropping needles than other species.

 

Caring for Your Tree

Cut trees should last about four weeks. Keeping them in a cool room, and not too close to heat sources such as fires and radiators, will help them to last longer. Putting them in a stand with a well of water in the base and topping it up regularly if the level goes down will also help.

If your Christmas tree has roots, put it in a pot, and bring it indoors as late as possible (Christmas Eve will be best if you can wait that long; replant it outside after the festive season is over) to give it the best chance of flourishing afterwards. The tree shouldn’t be kept indoors longer than 12 days, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

If you are growing one outdoors, care is largely a matter of common sense. Remove any shoots that spoil the silhouette or overall shape of the tree, and cut off any branches that are dead, diseased, dying or are competing with the leading stem.

 

Christmas Trees for Sale from Madingley Mulch

If you would like either a Nordmann Fir or Norway Spruce from Madingley Mulch, just give us a ring on 01954 212144 to order yours today. We have trees sizes ranging from 4-8 ft, so you should find one that meets your needs.

Trees delivered on their own are subject to a minimum £5 delivery charge. For more information on our trees and delivery, follow this link.

---

Back to blog