Getting a real Christmas tree - do I need a non-drop one, or are the other ones ok?

CazGreg

My mum always gets non-drop trees, so I've never 'experienced' the other kind. But I can't really afford a non-drop one, and you seem to get so much more tree for your money with the other kind.

Are they ok? How long will it last?

superskintmouse

we bought one in a pot for £30 last year, it lived in the garden all year and is a bit bigger now, it worked out cheaper cause we have only had to buy one! we have only ever had the non drop ones too. i think they look much nicer.

CazGreg

so - anyone out there who DOES get the non non-drop ones who can advise?!

esmer

Yes, DONT DO IT!

I had one, and by xmas eve it was a TWIG. I ended up spending the whole day dragging it outside and putting up my artificial. Never get one, you will be upset

pinkteapot

We always get a real tree. Our tree only goes up the weekend before Christmas, so this year on the 17th-18th. Real trees should last 2 weeks comfortably. I do always splurge on a non-drop Nordman Fir because I love the soft needles and how bushy they are. When I was a kid my parents always bought a real tree which was not non-drop (they are a lot cheaper!). Same as me now, it only went up shortly before Christmas and it lasted through Christmas just fine. They do drop needles but a good hoover after Christmas is all you need. My parents-in-law get a not non-drop one and theirs always looks good on the day.

If possible, buy from somewhere where you can see the tree and then they wrap it in the netting for you after you've chosen (garden centres and similar do this). One of my favourite parts is choosing the tree lol. Poor MrTeapot has to get them all out and stand them up so I can check they've got a nice shape and aren't lop-sided.

Get a decent stand and keep it topped up with water.

pinkteapot

esmer wrote: »

Yes, DONT DO IT!

I had one, and by xmas eve it was a TWIG. I ended up spending the whole day dragging it outside and putting up my artificial. Never get one, you will be upset

How long before Christmas did you put it up? If it was only during that week, I would have gone back to the shop and asked for a refund!

punkpink

pinkteapot wrote: »

We always get a real tree. Our tree only goes up the weekend before Christmas, so this year on the 17th-18th. Real trees should last 2 weeks comfortably. I do always splurge on a non-drop Nordman Fir because I love the soft needles and how bushy they are. When I was a kid my parents always bought a real tree which was not non-drop (they are a lot cheaper!). Same as me now, it only went up shortly before Christmas and it lasted through Christmas just fine. They do drop needles but a good hoover after Christmas is all you need. My parents-in-law get a not non-drop one and theirs always looks good on the day.

If possible, buy from somewhere where you can see the tree and then they wrap it in the netting for you after you've chosen (garden centres and similar do this). One of my favourite parts is choosing the tree lol. Poor MrTeapot has to get them all out and stand them up so I can check they've got a nice shape and aren't lop-sided.

Get a decent stand and keep it topped up with water.

Wow that sounds like me with my OH, first year with a real tree and i was all excited about going to pick one, we were there for 3 hours picking up trees and putting them down, then i asked for the one on display that we had seen first :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
And it was too tall, had to trim it and the fairy touches the ceiling!

pinkteapot

punkpink wrote: »

Wow that sounds like me with my OH, first year with a real tree and i was all excited about going to pick one, we were there for 3 hours picking up trees and putting them down, then i asked for the one on display that we had seen first :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
And it was too tall, had to trim it and the fairy touches the ceiling!

Every... single... year... I end up saying "Oh... It didn't look quite this big in the shop" as it makes it hard to move around our lounge. :rotfl:

wannabehermit

IME non-drop trees drop their needles just as much as normal ones do, if not more.

debz1989

I totally agree with wannabehermit, I've always had a real tree and have almost always had normal ones (they are a fair bit cheaper!) and they drop no more needles than the 'non-needle drop' ones.

The tree we had last year was only £9.99 from Homebase and it was still green when we got rid of it a good two weeks after Christmas! As long as you keep it well watered and it isn't close to a radiator it'll be absolutely fine.I prefer how they look to non-needle drop ones too, but that's probably just me, but I wouldn't buy a non-drop one solely on that basis, as they do still drop the needles.

Xaniwoop

The answer to a getting an 'ordinary' tree and keeping all the needles in place is freshness and water. If you can find somewhere where you go into the field, pick a tree and they cut it down, then keep it well watered. This is what we do and they last from 2 weeks before to New Year with minimal dropping and I get mine to twelfth night with a hoover underneath once or twice (about as often as I'd hoover the room anyway). It's also easier to choose as they are all already upright and easy to measure.