RANGE REVIEW: MERCHANDISING & POS
HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT FESTIVE FIR (AND MAKE IT LAST!)
It’s not long now until the big day. But the question is, this year, are you faking it or keeping it real? The Christmas tree, of course! Luckily, Christmas tree expert Veronika Kusak, director at celebrity favourite tree supplier Pines and Needles has shared her top tips on everything from choosing your festive fir to making sure it lasts throughout the festive period.
I
f you’re a stickler for symmetry,
or
looking to opt for something a little quirkier with different colours,
shapes or textures, an artificial tree may be the way to go. And you’d be joining the 58% of Brits who opt for a faux fir each year.
But that leaves 42% of us who choose to keep it real every December - and we of course would have to agree with them! As well as filling your home with that distinctive, fresh festive scent, real trees have their own unique shape that you just can’t mimic with a plastic pine. “They’re the more sustainable option as well, absorbing carbon, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere as they grow as well as being fully recyclable, so it’s a good way to have a more eco-friendly Christmas too.”
Choosing your tree
The most popular in the Christmas tree family, the Nordmann Fir is the best-selling Pines and Needles tree. Its non-drop needles are what makes it so popular and with the correct tree care there is no reason why the needles should drop throughout the festive season. The cutest tree of the range is the
pot grown Fraser Fir. Perfect for flats, or just to add some festive cheer into spaces, like your kitchen, where you may not fit a 6ft beauty. The pot grown Fraser Fir is perfect if you want to replant your tree at the end of the season in the garden and then use it as an outdoor tree in years to come.
The stunning Noble Fir is the original ‘blue’ Christmas tree with a scent to die for. Much like the
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Nordmann, the Noble Fir doesn’t drop its needles and its bushy upper branches help to give it a fuller appearance.
Making it last First of all, we’d recommend not putting your tree up too early - the second week of December is the sweet spot to make sure your tree looks stunning all season. And there’s a few top tips that will help to prolong the life of your tree too. Just before you install your tree, saw off the bottom 1in (3cm) of the trunk. This creates a fresh cut and opens up the pores in the bark through which the tree can drink water. We pre-cut all of our trees so you don’t have to! Make sure you position your
tree away from any heat direct sources such as radiators or fireplaces. Heat, air conditioning and dehumidifiers dry out your tree faster, so the further away from potentially damaging heat sources the better, and the fresher your tree will remain. Trees prefer steady conditions so it’s best to avoid any sudden changes in temperature too. Place your tree in plain water - not soil or sand which would block the pores in the bark - within a specially designed Christmas tree stand. This will keep your tree secure and allow you to easily top up the water. Crucially, make sure you keep your tree topped up with water. Your tree will drink more than you might think, up to 2-3 pints (1-2 litres) of water per day, depending on its size and your central heating settings. This is very important as once the water level drops below the tree’s trunk, sap will re-seal the bark within a few hours, preventing the tree from drinking
any further water even if you then re-fill the Christmas tree stand. So make sure you’re keeping your tree nice and hydrated!”
To order your tree, or for more information on Pines and Needles, visit
www.pinesandneedles.com
NOVEMBER 2023 DIY WEEK 33
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