Buying A Real Christmas Tree: 9 Things To Consider While Shopping (Photo Pexels Lumn)

For an authentic Christmas, homeowners may consider getting a Christmas tree! Fresh pine welcomes the festive season, and hey, artificial trees just don’t cut it for some of us.

If you’re ready to jump on the real Christmas tree bandwagon to celebrate the holiday, here are tips by experts from Prince’s Landscape & Construction, Far East Flora, and Cold Storage to help us with our real Christmas tree shopping.

Should I buy a real Christmas tree?

From space, height and size of the real Christmas tree, daily maintenance and cleaning, here are three things you must consider when shopping for a real Christmas tree:

Space for Christmas Tree

Consider where you are going to place the tree and how much space do you have? Measure your ceiling height and width space before going down to get your Christmas tree.

The recommended height is a buffer space of 1 feet (0.3m) from the ceiling if you have a bigger hall or a buffer space of 2 feet (0.6m) from the ceiling if you have a smaller room.

This also leaves room for a tree toppers.

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Where to place my Christmas tree at home?

Keep your Christmas tree away from sunlight

Take note not to place your tree near any heat source or direct sunlight, as that will dry out your tree very fast. If you’re thinking of placing you tree near the window with indirect sunlight, you might have to water your tree more frequently due to evaporation.

Also consider the fact that a live Christmas tree involves a lot more work and maintenance than an artificial one. So, ask yourself if you have the time to upkeep your tree.

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Buy Real Christmas Tree: 9 Things To Consider While Shopping (Photo Pexels Nick Collins)

Do I need a Christmas tree stand?

Finally, another thing to consider is your Christmas tree stand. If you’re a regular buyer of real Christmas trees and already have one from last year, check to make sure what size tree it holds and make sure it fits the Christmas tree you’re planning to buy.

If you are completely new to this whole thing, make sure you get a tree stand to go with it when you’re buying the tree.

Some nurseries provide the stand on a loan basis, which you have to return after getting rid of the tree.

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When should I buy a Christmas tree?

Most trees last for 30 days, so if you’re planning to have it last till the end of the year, the best time to buy and bring a Christmas tree home would be the first week of December.

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6 Common types of Christmas trees

Some of the most common types of Christmas trees sold in Singapore throughout the Christmas festive months include the:

  • Noble Fir
  • Nordmann Fir
  • Douglas Fir
  • Grand Fir
  • Fraser Fir
  • Balsam Fir

However the most common ones in nurseries here in Singapore are Noble and Fraser Fir, which is the most suited for our climatic condition. Their stiff and evenly-spaced branches make it easy to hang ornaments.

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How to choose a good Christmas tree?

If you’re visiting Far East Flora, Candy Floriculture, or the likes to pick out your own Christmas tree, there are two things you can do to “check” the condition of the tree – smell, and look.

Smell the pines to make sure it has a distinct, fresh, evergreen scent.

Observe the pines to make sure the needles are a beautiful dark green and not turning brown. Ensure that the tree is reasonably bushy and not sparse – if it’s sparse, it is an indication that the pine needles are dropping off and the tree is drying up.

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Buy Real Christmas Tree: 9 Things To Consider While Shopping (Photo Pexels Olena Bohovyk)

How to take care of a Christmas tree?

Pour cold water immediately into the tree stand when the tree reaches your home as the tree will be thirsty from the delivery transit.

While room temperature water works too, cold water is recommended as it prolongs the shelf life of your tree. The water should be topped up every day or every two days, depending on how thirsty your tree is. Check the water levels daily.

To prevent mosquito from breeding, you can add anti-mosquito granules in the water.

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Christmas Tree Safety Tips

Use low-heat producing decorations and lights on your Christmas tree to delay the drying of your Christmas trees.

Also, check lights and cords for broken bulbs and frayed wiring daily to prevent electrical-induced fires. Replace any spoilt parts, and switch off the lights and electricity when you leave the house.

Turn your tree lights off every night or when you leave the house, to prevent accidental fires from happening when you are unaware.

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How to dispose of Christmas trees?

Most nurseries offer a Christmas tree disposal service by professionals. Enquire while purchasing your tree.

You will be required to top up a disposal fee of $30 to $40, and select your disposal date on the spot.

If you wish to dispose your tree yourself, saw the tree in small pieces, and dispose it properly, with the ornaments, lights and metal wiring thrown separately. However, if your tree is more than 12 feet in height, it is recommended that you hire a bulky trash disposal professional to dispose your tree.

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