CHRISTMAS TREES

I inherited a mantelpiece Christmas decoration a couple of years ago from my mother. It is a collection of moulded together resin figures that have a frequency sensitive snow effect backdrop, which automatically plays a selection of Christmas carols at totally inappropriate moments. It gave my mother loads of enjoyment, as she would leave it on all year round to irritate the carers that come to visit her when she was ill. I tried to keep the tradition going in my own house after she died, but the rest of the family know where the off switch is on the back. However once the Christmas season comes it takes its place at the heart of the trappings and decorations of the season. Apart from this ‘Christmas tat’ as my 14 year old son calls this family heirloom with a look of patronising disdain, the other favourite decoration in our house (and in many others) is the Christmas tree. Now Although our family tend to put up our tree sometime in the week before Christmas, I have noticed many families locally put it up in the first weekend in December. So what are the options when choosing your tree?


SELECTION AND CARE OF YOUR TREE
You might be opting for the synthetic tree, which have their merits. Every year our family debates the merits of synthetic versus real. In practice this means I try and persuade Julie to have a practical, tidy, non needle dropping, reuse every year synthetic one and every year after politely listening to my great oratory powers, Julie goes out and gets a real one. When you are selecting your real Christmas tree always bear in mind where you are going to place it in the house. Check that the size suits your home and the room you are going to put it into. For most modern homes a 6ft Christmas tree is very suitable.

Check that the stem is straight and the tree has even, dense branches and a fresh colour. When you bring your Christmas tree home, cut an inch or two off the bottom of the stem and stand it outside in a bucket of water. Shake off any loose needles before you bring it inside and stand it in a special Christmas tree stand or in a bucket of wet sand with a water bowl to which you should add a pint of water daily (avoiding the electrics). Try not to let the tree dry out, as the base will re-seal itself and stop taking in water. Water is important as it prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and the branches from drooping. Water also keeps the tree fragrant. Place the tree in the coolest part of the room away from fires and radiators, as central heating is the worst enemy of a tree.

ROOTED TREES
If you have a big garden, then why not consider buying a rooted tree in a pot. Rooted trees in pots have the best chance of survival if they are kept in the house over the Christmas period. If you water them well they should still be alive at the end of the holiday and you can plant them outside in a half barrel in the garden ready for next year. I have known people successfully re-use their trees for a couple of years this way. They were planted into a bigger pot every year and it was a good while before the trees got too big for the house. It can be a lot of work keeping them watered in summer though.
Christmas trees to plant outdoors

Maybe you would like something Christmassy in the garden all year round. There are a few trees that would be suitable. Don't plant Norway spruce though unless you have a very large garden. It grows to about 30m (100ft) and drops needles all year. Instead, try:

· Abies koreana - grows to 12m (40ft) and therefore more suitable for the smaller garden.
· Abies procera - silvery-blue, fragrant tips, smooth, grey bark, and good needle retention.
· Abies fraseri - soft needles, which also hold well, and strong boughs that are ideal for supporting heavy ornaments.


TREE SAFETY
Make sure your tree is properly secured and positioned clear of doorways, stairs, heaters and open fires. Christmas tree lights can be dangerous if not properly wired. There are a lot of different types to go for in the shops. Look for the approved safety standards sign on the box and go for the low energy ones like the Buncrana Christmas Lights Committee have done this year. Remember to unplug tree lights and other decorations when out of the house or going to bed at night. And if you have a cat, make sure that it doesn’t jump up the tree to get to the shiny baubles and bring the whole lot down.



TREE TYPES

The most popular types of Christmas tree sold include:

· Norway spruce - the traditional choice and usually the cheapest. It has fallen from favour in recent years, as it tends to shed needles quite heavily. Nevertheless, if well watered and kept away from radiators it will drop fewer needles.
· Nordmann fir - the most popular tree these days due to its needle-holding qualities. It has strong, straight branches clothed with thick, flat needles with a silvery underside. But it's the most expensive as it's much slower growing.
· Fraser fir - this has a good shape and excellent needle-holding qualities.
· Blue spruce - this tree has a silvery-blue colour to the thick needles and an aromatic, citrus scent.
· Scots pine - a little more unusual, but a wonderful, bushy tree, with extra long needles that don't drop as readily.