insideKENT Magazine Issue 93 - December 2019 | Page 154

INTERIORS
CHOOSING AND CARING
FOR YOUR REAL CHRISTMAS TREE
EXPERT ADVICE FROM DOBBIES CHRISTMAS TREE BUYER,
RICHARD LOCKWOOD
Choosing your real tree variety
Have an idea of what you want before you go tree
shopping – think about the room the tree will go in,
and how much space you have for a tree, plus the
overall style you’d like to achieve.
In the UK, you’ll have a choice of four main
Christmas trees: Norway Spruce, Nordmann Fir,
Fraser Fir and Noble Fir.
First up is the Norway Spruce; it’s heralded as the
traditional Christmas tree with its lovely pyramid
shape, dark green foliage and rich festive scent.
Your second option, and by far the most popular,
is the Nordmann Fir. It’s dark green glossy foliage
and soft to the touch needles are best dressed in
fewer decorations, making it ideal for minimalist-
style homes. It’s low needle-drop properties
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means it will still be looking its best throughout the
Christmas festivities.
If, however, you prefer a narrower tree for a smaller
space, the Fraser Fir is the one for you. It has a more
conical habit, with dense foliage blue green in colour,
and a lovely citrus scent.
Finally, there is the Noble Fir. These are strong
chunky trees, perfect for hanging larger baubles and
decorations from its tiers of branches adorned with
gorgeous blue grey foliage.
A final option can include a pot-grown Christmas
tree, a versatile tree that can be used to add a festive
touch both inside and outside your home. If cared
for throughout the festive period, you can even
transplant it into your garden once the big day has
passed to grow it on for next Christmas.
Think height and width
Taller trees are usually also wider but remember it’s
easy to trim the trunk and remove some low hanging
branches if your chosen tree is too wide.
Look for the classic Christmas shape
Good quality real trees have been nurtured for
several years by their growers and are individually
hand trimmed during this time to encourage and
develop the traditional shape. When it comes to
Christmas trees, real or artificial, it’s worth that little
bit more investment to get exactly what you want.
Test the needle retention before you buy
Take the tree by the trunk and tap it on the ground.
All evergreen needles lose needles all year round,