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Tips for your Christmas tree
As the days get shorter and shorter, the snow trickles softly outside and the Christmas markets begin in many places, the anticipation of a relaxing Christmas season increases. Of course, the traditional Christmas tree should not be missing from the festive get-together! Hamburg gardening expert Johannes von Ehren tells us what to look out for when buying a Christmas tree, how to keep it looking its best for as long as possible and how it can be recycled for other purposes in the new year.
The question arises every year: Nordmann fir or blue spruce? Choosing the right variety is almost more important than the subsequent care. You should not only rely on your personal taste, but also take into account the different shelf lives. While Nordmann and Nobilis firs, for example, last for several weeks with the right care, blue spruce trees often start to lose their needles after just one week. If you only want to admire a beautiful tree on Christmas Eve, you can choose the slightly less expensive red spruce. However, these lose their needles after about two days. "All trees last longer if you either cut them down yourself or ask the supplier to cut the tree down when you buy it," says nurseryman Johannes von Ehren, giving a tip for the purchase. "That's the only way to be sure it's really fresh."
Store in a cool place, water sufficiently
"Many people buy their Christmas tree on the second or third day of Advent. To prevent it from drying out by Christmas Eve, it's better to leave the tree in the net after purchase and store it in a sheltered spot outside or in a cool garage," explains the expert. "It also makes sense to provide it with sufficient water outside - as long as it's not freezing." In order to give the tree time to regain its natural shape after storage, it should be set up a few days before decorating. If you place it in the Christmas tree stand together with the net and only then cut it open from bottom to top, you can prevent branches or even the top from breaking off. To prolong the life of the tree afterwards, you should not place it directly in front of a radiator, as the hot air draws water from the tree and thus its nourishment. "Many people also forget to top up the water in the stand regularly," says Johannes von Ehren. "However, a fir tree is like a large cut flower and needs to be given a constant drink. You can do without preservatives - they're useless here."
Photo: Blumen Cordes / @fotoduda.de
Goodbye Christmas tree
Disused Christmas trees are collected by municipal collection centres in many places in the new year. Those who prefer practical and decorative alternatives can place their disused tree on the patio, hang it with fat balls and use it as a bird feeder. Trickling needles don't bother the animals. "In spring, you can also use the tree as a climbing aid for annual climbing plants. Simply cut off all the branches so that only the trunk remains," explains Johannes von Ehren. "The young plants can then twine up it in spring."
Photo: Blumen Cordes / @fotoduda.de
Would you have known?
Christmas trees consume a good litre of water a day per metre of tree.
