Where can I buy a good, cheap, REAL Christmas Tree?

evilsheep

Hello there

Last year, thanks to a recent installation of wooden flooring, we bought our first real Christmas Tree. I'd only had artificial trees up to this point, so had no clue what to look for, where to look, what price is reasonable, what type of tree is appropriate etc. After asking around, we finally ended up buying a tree from J Deen in Cardiff (just the other side of the motorway from Cardiff Gate Business Park). Unfortunately, since we'd spent several weeks faffing about, they only had a handful of trees left (it was the 22nd December ...). However, one of them was perfect for us, and, if I remember correctly, was only £15.

Anyway, I thought that perhaps having a thread sharing information on prices/condition/availability of tidy Christmas trees might be beneficial at this time of year. Are some better at retaining their needles than others? Are Homebase trees better than B&Q trees? Is it worth spending a tenner more to get a better tree? Are there any smaller, non-corporate giant Christmas Tree vendors hidden away?

I haven't started looking this year yet, but will be popping back to J Deen to look at their prices - from what I remember they seemed reasonable compared with B&Q, and I do prefer to give money to smaller family-owned businesses!

I'm in the Cardiff area, so would love to hear others' recommendations for trees in this area. However, feel free to add information for the whole of Wales!

:xmastree:

safesound

I usually get mine from the Deri in Rhiwbina, they aren't cheap-cheap but are usually around £25 for a nice 6 ft tree.
Last year I thought for a change I go and have a look at a tree farm out near Bridgend, but quickly came scuttling back when they told me the trees started at £40 for a 3ft version that would have looked more at home in my garden.

panpipe

I can suggest a place for the Good and Real bit of your question, as for cheap I haven't got a clue how much they cost-mum and dad always paid!

I know it's quite a way from Cardiff, but my family have always bought our trees from Salem Christmas Tree Farm near Llandeilo.

http://www.salem-christmastrees.co.uk/

It's a small family-owned place where they send you out with a pair of wellies and a hacksaw! Or if you don't fancy that there are always some freshly cut ones. They can also advise on the best trees for (lack of) needle dropping etc. We always went for a Nordman Fir if that's any help!

Backbiter

I paid £3 per foot last year. An American lady sells them from a yard in Brynna, near Llanharan. Always very fresh - needles last really well if you water the tree.

alison99_2

panpipe wrote: »

I can suggest a place for the Good and Real bit of your question, as for cheap I haven't got a clue how much they cost-mum and dad always paid!

I know it's quite a way from Cardiff, but my family have always bought our trees from Salem Christmas Tree Farm near Llandeilo.

http://www.salem-christmastrees.co.uk/

It's a small family-owned place where they send you out with a pair of wellies and a hacksaw! Or if you don't fancy that there are always some freshly cut ones. They can also advise on the best trees for (lack of) needle dropping etc. We always went for a Nordman Fir if that's any help!

Another fan of Salem Christmas Tree Farm, there's nothing more exciting than sawing down your own Christmas tree :T :rudolf:

evilsheep

Salem Christmas Tree farm sounds fantastic! According to their website, prices start at £3 per foot for a Norway Spruce. Excellent information there about the different types of tree too. It seems that a Fraser Fir would be more suitable for me too, as opposed to a Nordmann Fir.

£25 for a six footer from Rhiwbina sounds pretty reasonable to me too (and very local), but sadly I don't think I have room for one that size.

caroline233

Well I had always bought mine from the forestry commission between Bonvilston and Cowbridge on the A48 but a couple of years ago the same guy who sells them on the old garage site about half a mile away, towards Bonvilston, took over the forestry site too and the cost is now astronomical.

In fact, last year I left it until December 20th, which is traditional in our family, and had a tree for half price. Even so, it was still a lot of money so I'm thinking of getting an artificial tree for the first time ever.

Are there any good fake trees out there? Any to avoid?

newniepg

Two years ago we had a lovely tree from 'no frills' near merthr tydfil. It was £9.99 for about 8 ft of tree, there was a fixed price for any of the trees, I think we picked the biggest! I don't know if they still do them for that much, but I will certainly go and have a look.

Gigervamp

We got a bargain last year from Countrywide. As the kids weren't going to be home for xmas, we hadn't bothered getting a tree, but popped into Countrywide on xmas eve to pick up some dog food and they were selling off the trees for £1 each!
We're planning on looking there again this year to see if they're doing it again. (We have a small fibre optic tree as a back up!)

ted_2

We get our Christmas tree on the top of Wentwood, which is just past Newport. Go through Langstone and look for the signs on the left after a few miles. On the map it is on the top of the ridge between Usk and Caldicot/Magor.
I just got a 7 foot tree for about £24, but the best thing is that it is in the middle of the woods there and you can get a hot choc and feel all Christmassy. It is a beautiful place there at the moment with all the wintry stuff.

bab5

You could try Ikea in Cardiff, prices are from £20 upwards for a 5 to 6 foot tree:j