DID you know that the carbon footprint from manufacturing and disposing of a single plastic Christmas tree is the equivalent to around 88lbs of greenhouse gasses?
While the impact on the planet of disposing of a real by chipping it and recycling it into bark is pretty much zero.
B&Q expert Mark Sage has top tips on choosing your Christmas treeCredit: Ian Tuttle
People choosing a Christmas Tree at RHS WisleyCredit: Supplied
Of course I’m biased – but if you’re thinking about buying a real tree there’s a few top tips you should know about.
sell thousands of trees every year, and their chief horticulturalist Mark Sage told : “In a nutshell, installing proper care from the offset will save money.
“To maintain the appearance and freshness, it’s crucial to water it daily.
“A dehydrated will quickly begin to droop and wilt.
“While a real tree can absorb between 1-2 litres of water daily, a cut tree will stay hydrated with less.
“The average-sized can consume up to a pint of water per day.
“Regular watering will help keep your tree looking lush and full, preventing it from drying out and shedding needles prematurely.”
He added: “When choosing, it is important to think about the space you have – both your ceiling height and how wide you can realistically go.
“often appear smaller than they actually are when you’re selecting them in the garden centre, and then frequently require some trimming once they’re placed in the home!
“You should also always measure the space you have to accommodate a tree and take your tape measure with you.
“Take into account the height of the water retaining stand they will be placed in as this can add a couple of inches.
“Look for a good all-round shape to the tree, making sure the leader – the top section where the angel or star goes – isn’t broken, and ensure you look underneath as you will need to remove 2.5cm from the main trunk to allow for good water uptake.
“Also, to minimise on any cut tree, ensure it is not placed close to any direct heat source or in rooms kept above an average house temperature.
“Instead, following good care advice and choosing a sensible location should ensure a cut tree lasts 5-6 weeks with minimal needle drop.
“When selecting, look for bright green needles that are flexible and bendy and do not fall off easily upon touching.”
RHS Head Horticulturist Guy Barter has revealed the characteristics of different types of trees to help you choose.
- Norway spruce – traditional with a classic scent, shorter indoor life and quick to drop its needles
- Nordmann fir – one of the most popular Christmas trees in the UK due to its soft, slow-to-drop needles and sturdy branches
- Blue spruce – striking blue tone, excellent needle retention
- Fraser fir – compact and fragrant, ideal for smaller rooms
- Lodgepole pine – are bushier than other Christmas trees with long deep green pine scented needles that sometimes bear cones.
- Korean fir- Dark green, slightly curling needles. Excellent needle-holding quality.
For a more sustainable choice, pot-grown trees can be brought indoors briefly over Christmas, then returned outside and cared for year-round.
Potted trees can also be planted in the garden in a sunny spot and dug up and potted each winter.
The RHS also recommends dwarf conifers and aromatic evergreens – such as Norfolk Island pine, Japanese cedar, or bay tree ‘Little Ragu’ – as stylish alternatives that can be reused each year.
Also in Veronica's Column this week...
Garden news, top tips, plant of the week and a Competition to win a £200 Dobbies Garden Centre Voucher
For more gardening content follow me @biros_and_bloom
NEWS! It’s just been National Tree Week . And to celebrate – the first saplings grown from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree have been planted.
Forty nine were grown from seeds and material rescued from the chopped down tree, to mark the sycamore’s height in feet when it was cut down, at the National Trust’s plant conservation centre.
The first places to receive the trees include the Tree Sanctuary in Coventry, a site commemorating the Minnie Pit mining disaster in Staffordshire and Greenham Common, Berkshire.
Plus the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, at Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland, and at a veterans’ charity, Veterans in Crisis, in Sunderland.
The first sapling grown from the Sycamore Gap tree was gifted to the King last summer and will be planted at a later date.
NEWS! THE Good Grief Trust has launched a Growing With Grief campaign – providing packets of seeds for those coping with the loss of a loved one.
Many believe the act of planting and tending to a living thing provides a daily routine – while tangible tasks like watering, weeding, and ensuring sunlight, can restore a sense of control and purpose during a time of chaos.
Witnessing a seed sprout and grow into a plant offers a powerful, physical metaphor for life continuing even after a loss. And by demonstrating resilience and the natural cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth, it can offer comfort and hope for the future.
Plus studies show that gardening can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, reduce blood pressure, and calm nerves
Through a range of events across the UK, from community Walk & Talks to creative projects like the seeds, the Trust is helping people feel less alone and encouraging open conversations around loss.
TOP TIP! Gardening Express are selling Poinsettas for a pound this weekend as part of its Black Friday launch.
WIN! Dobbies Garden Centres is giving one lucky person the chance to win a £200 gift card to spend in-store, perfect for getting your home ready for the festive season. With real Christmas trees now available in Dobbies stores nationwide, you can choose from a wide range of freshly cut and pot-grown varieties for your holiday centrepiece. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/DobbiesChristmas or write to Sun Dobbies Christmas Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. December 20, 2025. apply
SAVE! Use a long handled bulb planter to get them in the colder ground. Try Kent & Stowe’s £43.99 stainless steel version or a £17.99 Gardelle from Robert Dyas .
JOB OF THE WEEK! Keep feeding the birds, prune climbing roses, and now is a great time to prune grapevines. Cut the previous years sideshoots to the first or second bud depending on how strong it is.
PLANT OF THE WEEK! Camellia ‘Yuletide’ is a lovely Christmassy low maintenance hardy shrub with loads of red flowers around now. Perfect for borders or large pots.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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