Where's the best place to buy a real Christmas Tree?

[1978]

Previous posts were a bit early for getting a real Xmas tree.

 

Most retailers are only just setting out their stock, but bear in mind some of the trees you see will have been cut in early November. It's fair to ask where they came from. Conifers aren't natural trees in this area so generally only grown in small nurseries. Most will have come from places like Wales, Scotland, and Scandinavia.

 

Good tree wholesalers keep the trees moist to ensure they'll last as long as possible. This year they'll not be needing to hose them down quite so much!! Do all tree retailers pay attention to keeping their trees fresh? I doubt it.

 

The traditional Norway Spruce smells great, but is not happy in modern centrally heated houses and is guaranteed to drop - a lot. They're still popular, but if buying one of them aim to get it straight from a nursery where they're still growing. That way they may go the distance.

 

Longshaw has been mentioned and they're selling them now - but the best are bound to go first. I think they'll allow you to reserve a tree to cut or dig up nearer Xmas. They'll let you walk round their nursery to choose, and sometimes let the children help Mum and Dad cut or dig up the chosen tree.

 

For a good cut tree go for something like a Nordmann Fir, Fraser Fir or Lodgepole Pine. They'll usually last through the Xmas period with only modest dropping - but the warmer the situation the more they'll be likely to drop. It's always best to keep them outside as long as possible and once inside ensure the tree is still kept moist in a pot rather than a stand.

 

Cut trees mostly come in good shapes and regular sizes. Any odd shaped trees don't get sold by the growers, but damage can occur in transit. Places selling straight from the ground in nurseries are selling more 'natural' trees, maybe in more varied shapes and sizes, possibly with more character!

 

Cut trees get netted where cut ready for transport on trucks, closely packed together - some may be packed in containers when imported. Many sellers remove the netting to allow buyers to see what they're getting, others don't.

 

We've had an excellent artificial tree that's lasted years. It was cheaper, although a bit of a pain to assemble each year. We'd always had a Norway Spruce, often bought ready netted. Big mistake! I suppose the dropped needles, still being vacuumed up 6 months later, eventually put us off.

 

We went back to having a real one last year as we'd more time to choose. The ready cut Nordmann didn't drop anything like as badly and had a 'real' smell. Haven't decided what to go for this year, but it will be real.

[BHRemovals]

lots of places longshaw estate combine it wi a cuppa in the lovely cafe thereor there's a guy with a pitch on sharrowvale rd next to the new wet fish shop

[barleycorn]

Careful buying from B&Q. Their prices are cheap but that's because they're not very good trees. Think it's best to go somewhere where you can look at the trees out of their bags. We get ours from Tree Amigos outside Morrisons because they have loads on display and they'll happily get more out of their bags if you want to see a wider selection. They're a local business too so we feel better buying off them than a big chain.

 

Got my last three trees from B&Q, never had a problem with them. We had last years up well into February. Also, you can take then out of the bags to look at them if you like, we always have and the staff. Picked up ours for this year yesterday (7ft Nordmann Fir £45).

Top tip: Saw off the bottom inch of the trunk when you get your tree home and keep the stand topped up with water.

 

jb

[Dannyno]

Whirlow Hall Farm have lots of trees at the moment:

http://www.whirlowhallfarm.org/?page_id=38

[charlie10]

For the last couple of years we've used http://www.goodelf.co.uk the trees have always been in excellent condition & shape, and as they are delivered to your door you don't have to struggle getting them to fit in the car.

[Rob_1]

We always get ours from Birley Moor Garden Centre, they're all on display outside and aren't netted until you've chosen one.

 

I like the idea of going to Longshaw and picking out a rooted one though. My wife brought a pathetic 3ft tall one home from Asda around 6 years ago, I planted it in the back garden after christmas and it's now over 8ft tall!

[delboy85]

homebase have good trees at great price.

[this_life]

Longshaw estate are good. There are also two really nice garden centres near coal Aston on a rural road, forgotten the name. Good for decorations too.

[gnvqsos]

High Riggs,Stannington-pick your own from the field-up past the Crown and Glove.

[Tombo46]

My shop has been selling Christmas tree's for over 30 years. We now only stock a premium grade Nordman (non-drop). We are a small family run independent Greengrocers and have based our trade on good reputation. We buy in approximately 300 Christmas tree's every year which for such a small shop is a very very large amount. We sell so many as we have a lot of repeat customers.

 

We have a lot of tree's already un-netted for customers to look at and are always happy to open more. We also have a netting machine to re-net it so you can manage it easier.

 

We have earned our reputation through selling quality tree's not cheap tree's. in all honesty you will probably find us around about £5 dearer than places such as B&Q etc. I've always believed that if you can get a mediocre tree at £35, why not spend the extra fiver and buy a premium grade tree? When you're looking at a cheap nasty tree in your living room you aren't thinking about that £5 you saved.

 

We are based at the top of Twentywell Lane in Bradway (S17 4QH). Just look for the sign (and the hundreds of trees!)