Christmas Trees galore…

Here in Clarenbridge Garden Centre, it is Christmas Trees galore….

We are getting ready for that exciting time when you come to choose your Christmas tree!

The Christmas songs are already playing, and the freshly cut trees are lined up and waiting to be taken home to be decorated for the season.

You will find a great selection of good quality Nordmann Firs in the garden centre this year in a variety of sizes. From 5 ft – 14 ft, there are literally 100’s to choose from!  Nordmann Fir trees have a triangular bushy shape,the needles are dark green in colour the scent is pure Christmas!  It has light green foliage and an underneath of lovely shiny silver. The Nordmann fir is a good tree for keeping it’s needles.

Potted Christmas Trees

Another option is potted Christmas trees. We also have some lovely potted Spuces this year – it’s a nice idea to have something you and the family can plant in your garden after the festivities are over, and watch it grow over the years – but do remember that it will get really big, so make sure it has enough space around it!

Prepariing your Christmas Tree

When you have chosen your tree and you get it home, bring your tree indoors as close to Christmas as you can. Until then, keep it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. An unheated garage or shed would be perfect for this.

A cut tree is best displayed in a reservoir-type stand. First cut a 2 – 5 cm-thick slice from the base,when trees are cut, pitch oozes out and seals the pores. By sawing off the base, you will open up the pores, and the tree will be able to absorb water. Don’t whittle the sides down as the outer layers are the most efficient at taking up water. Remember – A freshly-cut tree can consume 4 litres of water in 24 hours! Watering is critical – Fill the tree stand with water and keep it filled. After that, expect that the tree will absorb 1 litre or more per day, depending upon its size. Do not let the water level drop below the bottom of the stem. When that happens even for a short period of time, there is a risk that the tree will lose the ability to take up water.

Remember that your potted tree will need to be kept watered throughout the festive season too.

When positioning your tree indoors, remember to place it close to an electrical socket if you are going to light it – trailing wires can be dangerous when there are children and pets around! Also, try to keep your tree as far away from fires and radiators as possible to prevent drying. A corner of your room is the ideal place for your tree, where it is less likely to be accidentally knocked over!

Decorating your Christmas Tree

Always check your Tree lights before you decorate your tree – there is nothing more frustrating than discovering that after spending all that time on the finishing touches to your tree that the lights don’t work! Consider using battery operated lights if you can’t get your tree close to a socket, and why not light up smaller potted trees outside your front door for that extra bit of Christmas cheer! You should check out our selection of lights, and decorations this year they are a wee bit different from usual.

If you have had to trim foliage from the bottom of your tree, why don’t you use the trimmings to decorate your mantelpiece or to make a door wreath. To keep the cut foliage looking at its best, put it in a bucket of cold water overnight in a cool room before you use for decorating your home.

After Christmas…

You can use your tree for firewood. Trim the branches off the tree, and saw the trunk into 30cm length pieces. Keep these covered up somewhere dry and they will a make great aromatic open fire in your home the following Christmas!

Use dried out sprigs and small branches as kindling for your fire or wood burning stove.

You could prop your tree near the bird feeder as a staging area for the wild birds in your garden. You can also string the tree with goodies for the birds!

Alternatively you can recycle your tree by dropping it back off at the garden centre!

If you have a potted Christmas tree, don’t put it out into the garden immediately if it has been in your warm house. Instead, put it into the garage or shed for a few days to allow it to acclimatize to the cooler temperatures first.

Need to know any more? Get in touch with us here at Clarenbridge Garden Centre: info@clarenbridgegarden.ie  tel: 091 776492