Large fresh Christmas trees should be of excellent quality, and good farmers will make sure that such trees are uniform in shape so that they look particularly attractive when decorated and/or lit up. The UK’s most popular real Christmas trees, the Nordmann fir and the Norway spruce, are both readily available in larger sizes, as is the Noble Fir. Such trees look beautiful both inside and out, and many retailers offer a professional installation service, saving buyers the hard work.

Many large fresh Christmas trees also come professionally pre-lit and/or pre-decorated, for those that want the extra ‘wow’ factor but none of the hard work. And lot of Christmas tree suppliers provide a recycling service where used trees are collected, chipped and reused, either as garden mulch or boiler fuel. If buying a real large Christmas tree, use a provider who is a member of the BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) to ensure quality and freshness.

Artificial large Christmas trees are available in many styles, and these range in height from 10 feet to around 40 feet. There are indoor and outdoor versions available, and these are usually made to order. Such trees are available plain or pre-lit with LED lights and/or decorated for that professional look. Obviously, with a large Christmas tree, safety is paramount and so it is imperative that such trees are secured properly, whether indoors or outdoors. Outside, trees are usually held in place with surface bolts and wire extensions that secure the tree to a surface, or an additional base frame may be used with sandbags or cement blocks. The artificial large Christmas tree may be dismantled after use and stored in wooden cartons for future use.

There is a relatively new large artificial cone tree on the market, and this has colour-coded screw-on connections for ease of assembly. When disassembled, the pieces of the frame store neatly inside one another, reducing the amount of storage space needed. As well as being very convenient, these cone trees are very attractive and lights and Christmas tree decorations may be added to the frame for extra effect.

Where people buy their tree depends on various factors such as whether an artificial or real Christmas tree is required, but many families are increasingly ordering online. There are many advantages of ordering your Christmas tree over the internet, from scope of choice to being able to compare prices and offers – it also a very convenient way of ordering a tree for the busy family of today, who would rather relax in the comfort of their own home than brave the Xmas crowds!

There are many different kinds of online Christmas tree shop, from the superstores that sell both real and artificial trees to the specialist retailer that sells one or the other. Some larger online stores offer additional services such as Christmas tree delivery and recycling after use, with many even offering installation and decoration services for a modest fee. Fresh Christmas tree retailers generally operate online in the two months running up to Christmas, whilst those selling artificial Christmas trees are open all year round. If you do buy a real tree online, buy as late as possible to ensure freshness.

Whatever tree you choose online, make sure that any Christmas tree shop you buy from is reputable. If you buy a real Christmas tree, only use retailers that are members of the BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) – this is an assurance of freshness and quality. In the case of other retailers, look for well-established stores that offer excellent customer service along with a no-quibble refund or exchange, should you not be happy with your tree or any other goods bought.

Online Christmas tree shops are big business due to their convenience, choice and value, and as a result online Christmas tree sales are increasing every year.

Just like its larger counterpart, the small Christmas tree comes in many styles, sizes and designs, with both real and artificial versions available. The smallest real Christmas trees are the pot-grown versions, and these seldom grow over 3 feet. They need to be regularly watered, just like any other house plant, and look just as lovely as a full size tree when decorated. A distinct advantage of the pot grown tree is that it comes with roots and so can be planted and enjoyed in the garden after Xmas.

Miniature Christmas Trees

There is a huge range of small artificial Christmas trees, with ‘small’ usually referring to anything less than 4 feet in height. From the contemporary coiled wire mini Christmas trees in smart metallic colours to the barbie pink 2-3 foot Christmas tree adorning many little girls’ bedrooms, and the huge scope of choice in between. Pre-decorated; pre-lit; fibre optic; snow covered; frosted – just like the regular Christmas tree, the small Christmas tree comes in all these choices.

A miniature Christmas tree can evoke the spirit of the festive season just as well as a larger one, and they are in big demand worldwide. The 12 inch desktop LED Christmas tree looks lovely in the office (especially if each desk has one) and only requires one battery, and the fibre-optic USB miniature tree also looks equally as lovely in the home or office – simply plug into the USB port of your computer to see a gorgeous display of colour.

Whilst the small Christmas tree may lack in size, it really matches the larger Christmas tree in terms of character and style.

Real Christmas Tree

Pros: Excellent choice                            Cons: Needles may be sharp

Fresh green foliage                                            Require a lot of care

Lovely pine scent                                               Only last over Xmas

Gorgeous bushy/full foliage

Evokes the spirit of Christmas

Slight fire risk as tree dies out

Artificial Christmas Tree

Pros: Huge scope of choice                     Cons: May work out expensive initially

Convenient                                                          Lack of pine scent

Require little/no maintenance                              Non-biodegradable

Last for years (value for money)

Fire retardant

Excellent for those allergic to real trees

Taking into account these factors when choosing your Christmas tree should make the decision much easier – then you have the even harder task of deciding on your Christmas tree decorations and lights!

Cultivating Christmas trees is a long, drawn-out process, and so Christmas tree growers really do have their work cut out. From seed, it takes between 8 and 12 years to grow a 7-foot tree, depending on the species. Seeds are usually grown in nurseries for 3 to 4 years before the Christmas tree farm buys them, and then they are planted and cultivated on the farm for the remainder of the time. The outcome depends on species of tree, soil type and weather conditions, amongst other things such as cultivation techniques.

In the UK, providers of quality Christmas trees can be identified by the BCTGA logo. The BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) is the trade association for those who grow fresh Christmas trees in the UK and is an assurance that only the freshest trees are available for sale. Such trees are grown in accordance with the BCTGA environmental code of practice, meaning they are guaranteed fresh and will last around 4 weeks.

If you only stick to Christmas tree growers that are members of the BCTGA, then you should have no problems at all with your real Christmas tree. Once trees are cut they begin to slowly lose their freshness, and good farms leave the cutting of their Christmas trees as late as possible. Better still, if you go to a farm where you can choose your tree before it is cut down, you will be sure that your cut Christmas tree is as fresh as can be. UK-based Christmas tree growers work hard to ensure that they offer a wide variety of tree, and these include the popular Norway spruce and Nordmann fir, as  well as other species such as the Noble fir; Fraser fir; Lodgepole pine; Scots pine; Serbian spruce and Blue spruce.

Economy Tree Delivery (Tree in Box)

Buying your Christmas tree online is no different to going to a store and buying one – you still have the same customer rights and the quality of the goods should be as described –the only difference with online Christmas trees being that you get to choose one from the comfort of your own home and escape the stress of jostling crowds in the process!

If you do decide to buy your Christmas tree online, make sure you do your homework and that any site you use is a reputable one – many good online retailers are listed on the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) website, so this would be a good place to start. Buying over the Internet is more risky than buying in person, in the sense that you cannot actually see or feel the item in question, so make sure you read item descriptions carefully before buying. Ensure that any site you buy from offers a no quibble exchange or refund if goods are faulty or not as described, as this offers peace of mind should things go wrong with a sale.

As long as you use only reputable Internet retailers, buying online and getting your Christmas tree delivered should be a thoroughly positive experience.

Nordman Fir

By the 12^th century, Christians in Central Europe were hanging the fir tree upside-down at Christmas time as a symbol of Christianity, and in modern times the Nordman fir is the most popular of the fir Christmas trees, having overtook the Norway spruce in terms of popularity. The Nordman retains its needles better than any other fir, it has bright green glossy needles that are soft to the touch, a lovely symmetrical shape and a gorgeous scent, and all these factors make it a favourite with families.

There are other species of fir Christmas tree, and one of these is the Noble fir. The beautiful Noble fir is popular due to its thick, soft foliage and and pleasant fragrance – as its foliage is so dense, the Noble fir is also used to make wreaths, door swags and other such Christmas products. The Fraser fir is another popular choice with families, due to its appealing appearance, nice fragrance, strong branches, soft needles and attractive blue-green foliage. A distinct advantage of this tree is that its strong branches can hold heavy decoration.

The Grand fir, also known as the giant fir, is popularly used as a Christmas tree in several American states. The beautifully thick foliage

Noble Fir

is a glossy green and attractively scented, with soft needles, and delicate branches. Because of this, only light ornaments can be hung from this tree. The Douglas fir has long been used as a Christmas tree in the United States, and this lovely conical species has soft, shiny green needles and a beautiful sweet scent. This tree is trimmed into an almost perfect cone shape, so it can be difficult to get ornaments on branches, but this does not seem to detract from its popularity.

The fir Christmas tree is popular worldwide, and has been so since the history of the Christmas tree began.

Wholesale Christmas trees can be ordered in person, online or over the telephone, making the process very straightforward and convenient. Most good wholesalers are easily contactable by phone, fax or email, and if your query is received outside of office hours, a company representative will call you back to discuss your needs. Wholesalers have a nationwide distribution service and will deliver anything from a single tree to a large consignment of trees.

Just like any retailer, a wholesale Christmas tree supplier should provide a wide range of Christmas trees; cut, potted, etc, in many different species, and these should be of premium quality. Customer service should be of utmost importance, and this is likely if a wholesaler is a member of the BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association). Check the website for a list of corresponding wholesalers.

Many wholesale Christmas tree companies are open to the public as well as retailers, allowing ordinary families the chance to buy their Christmas tree (and other decorations) at a bargain price. The ‘middle man’, the retailer, is cut out, and so many a bargain is to be found. If you have a Christmas tree wholesaler near you, pay them a visit this year to pick up some Christmas bargains!

Some retailers offer free Christmas tree delivery, whilst others charge a small fee. When you order your Christmas tree for delivery, check where the retailer delivers to; small local businesses may only deliver locally, whilst bigger companies will deliver nationwide, or even worldwide.

Most companies deliver during business hours Monday to Friday and sometimes Saturday, for a surcharge. The best companies are customer-led, meaning that they will deliver at a time to suit you, rather than themselves. Delivery time is normally given as a morning or afternoon on a given date, but some companies will deliver within a specific 2 or 3 hour timeslot, meaning less waiting around for recipients. Many companies offer next day delivery for an extra charge, which is handy for those who need their tree quickly. Be aware that the majority of companies will require an order to be placed before 1pm for next day delivery.

As a customer, you have every right to expect your Christmas tree delivery to be quick and reliable, with the tree reaching you in tip-top condition. If, for some reason, your tree cannot be delivered, then it is up to the company to inform you in advance and reputable companies will do this.

Many companies charge for delivery according to where you live, with areas bring split up into zones. If you order a Christmas tree for delivery, make sure that you double check delivery costs so there are no disputes later. This is especially important if you live outside of the UK mainland, such as in the Scottish Highlands – delivery costs to these places can be quite high.

To conclude, Christmas tree delivery is a godsend for those who choose to use the service, for whatever reason. The hassle and stress of getting the tree home is taken away, and this is well worth the small fee.

Due to its role as a best seller, there are many different designs of green Christmas tree: real or artificial; pre-lit and/or pre-decorated; frosted or flocked; small or large – the list goes on. Which green Christmas tree you decide on will depend on many factors, but the first one has to be do you want a real tree or artificial? Once you have made this decision, choosing your green Christmas tree should become easier.

Today, ‘green’ is so much more than a simple colour; the term also refers to the need to be environmentally- friendly in order to protect the planet, and we all have a responsibility to ensure our Christmas tree is as ‘green’ as possible. A real Christmas tree is much more eco-friendly than an artificial one, in many respects. Be sure to buy your real Christmas tree from a sustainable source –details are on the British Christmas Tree Growers Association website – or, even better, buy a tree with roots so that it may be replanted after Xmas.

When it comes to disposing of your green Christmas tree, do so in an environmentally friendly way: many Christmas tree farms and other retailers (and local councils) offer a Christmas tree recycling service, whereby they turn used trees into reusable wood chippings or mulch.

Artificial Christmas trees are also good for the environment in another way. For instance, they last much longer than a real Christmas tree, meaning less waste in the landfill. When you have finished with your tree, why not recycle it (and thus keeping it out of landfill longer) by seeing if anyone else could make use of it?

If you are truly committed to preserving the environment, why not treat yourself to a truly green Christmas tree over the festive season? The Woodland Trust sells ‘eco trees’ that are made of recycled card that can be used year after year and, if you are not too bothered about having a tree on display in your home, you could dedicate a tree instead.

It is a shocking fact that only 10% of Christmas trees were recycled last Christmas, so this year be environmentally-friendly and make sure that your green Christmas tree is kind to the environment as well as its colour.