Tree time can be quite easy

Christmas is here and glittering Christmas trees adorn hotel lobbies, shopping malls and garden centres all across the UAE. To some, Christmas wouldn't be complete without a freshly-hewn Christmas tree resplendent with twinkling lights and shimmering decorations.

Even though we live in a part of the world where you do not enjoy the luxury of harvesting your own tree from wild forests or commercial tree farms, we do have the option of buying a pre-cut fresh conifer from a number of local garden centres, that stock a range of artificial as well as fresh Christmas trees.

According to Edyne, projects and maintenance manager, Dubai Garden Centre, though several species of evergreen trees, including pines, balsams or firs, are commercially grown as Christmas trees, one of the most favoured species is the Nordmann Fir.

"Nordmann Fir is popular as a Christmas tree because of its attractive blue-green foliage that has a hint of silver, giving the tree a misty appearance from certain angles. The needles of this particular Christmas tree, which is imported from Scotland, are not sharp and do not drop as readily," informs Edyne.

However, sometimes days or even weeks may elapse before a tree harvested in a far-flung continent becomes available for sale in your local garden centre. Therefore, great care needs to be exercised when choosing a tree.

How to buy

Artificial Christmas trees are no doubt more convenient and cheaper, but if you decide to go for a fresh-from-the farm tree, then your most important consideration should be its freshness. Inspect closely for signs of damage or excessive browning. A fresh tree will have healthy green needles and will give off a pleasant aromatic smell. The tree you buy should fit comfortably in the room where it is meant to be displayed and if you live in a high-rise building, it should also fit comfortably inside the elevator. Use a tape to measure the tree's dimensions before the purchase.

Caring

After buying your Christmas tree, the first thing to do is to get it home as quickly as possible. Keep the tree covered in its original plastic wrap during the trip home to keep it from drying out. Keep the inside of your vehicle as cool as possible and avoid parking in the sun to prevent any temperature shock.

Once home, shake off any loose needles before bringing the tree inside. Place the tree in a sturdy tree-stand or a container that can hold at least 4-5 litres of water. Mounting the tree in a container filled with wet sand will not only help maintain the moisture levels, but the wet sand will also act as a stable prop to prevent the tree from being knocked over. If you are using a tree-stand filled with water, make sure the base is sturdy and the tree is mounted securely.

If the base of the tree dries out, the xylem vessels will get blocked, preventing efficient water absorption. The tree will then dry out quickly. Cutting about an inch off the bottom of the trunk before placing it in the tree-stand will aid in better water absorption. Whether you place the tree in wet sand or water, you should replenish the water daily to keep the foliage green and make the tree last longer.

Never whittle the sides of the trunk to make the tree fit a stand, because this will severely damage the outer layer of wood containing xylem vessels that play a vital role in supplying water to all parts of the tree.

Once the tree has been mounted and placed in its correct position, you can start decorating it. You can colour theme your tree by colour-coordinating the ornaments and lights or go for a multicoloured display. Old ornaments passed down through generations hold sentimental value and you can use a few of them to make your tree an eclectic mix of family traditions and contemporary style.

The decorative lights can have a drying effect on the tree, therefore, select miniature lights that produce low heat. Once you have taken all the pains and precautions to decorate your Christmas tree aesthetically as well as safely, it's time to sit back and enjoy the tree with your family and friends.

When properly cared for, a fresh cut tree will last for weeks before drying out. You can discard the tree when it is past its prime, or have it chipped for mulch. And if you are not ready to discard the tree yet, you can stand it in your backyard as a bird feeder.

Put it up in the right place

The location you choose for displaying the tree should be away from doorways, kitchen, stairs, open flames, air ducts, heaters, radiators, direct sunlight or any other heat source which may dry it out prematurely.

Place the tree in the coolest part of the room where it can be admired and enjoyed by everyone without any danger of knocking it over.

So it's never a hazard...

A few safety precautions should be taken to prevent the tree from becoming a fire hazard.

Never use candles or open flame ornaments of any kind to decorate your tree.

Worn electrical cords can spark a fire, therefore before placing them on the tree, inspect each string of lights carefully to make sure the cords are not frayed and the connections are secure.

Discard strands and bulbs that look damaged and replace them with a new set.

Always turn the lights off before leaving the house or going to bed.

Artificial trees: Just the thing for you?

If you do not enjoy chores such as sweeping the fallen pine needles and watering your Christmas tree, then an artificial tree may be just the thing for you.

Artificial trees are ideal for those who live in apartments or suffer from allergies. However, they are non-recyclable and will last for centuries in a landfill.

Yet, all said and done, artificial Christmas trees are here to stay, as they are not only convenient, but are also cheaper in the long run. They come in a range of colours and styles and some are even pre-decorated to save you the trouble. Once the season is over, you can disassemble the tree, place it in its original packing case and store it away for next year.

Some expensive trees look so authentic you have to touch them to make sure they are not real trees. Even if they are expensive, it is only a one-off cost as compared to buying a Christmas tree and carting it home every year.

According to Dines Mangahis, merchandising manager, Dubai Garden Centre, when properly cared for; artificial Christmas trees can be used for 4-5 years. She gives the following tips for preserving an artificial Christmas tree and for retaining its original shape and lustre:

Always store the tree in its original box.

Make sure the storage area is dry and cool as any moisture leak would lead to rusting and discolouration.

Use the assembly instructions and the colour code to reassemble the tree.

Once the tree is reassembled, dust it thoroughly. Spray it with a fine mist of water spray to get rid of the clinging dust particles. Let the tree dry completely and then finally, use a regular leaf spray to bring back its original lustre.