How to choose the perfect Christmas tree that will last all Yuletide – tips from the experts

Choosing the perfect Christmas tree is one of the great joys of the season but it also comes with its challenges. With so many trees to choose from, how do you make sure you pick the one that will last the duration of the festive season and look perfect in your living room? Fear not – the Christmas tree experts at Pines and Needles have the answers.

Veronika Kusak, Director at Pines and Needles, is urging people to prioritise picking the right tree before getting carried away with decorations.

“Before you start scrolling Pinterest and Instagram for the latest tree decorating trends, it makes sense to ensure you’ve selected the best Christmas tree for the room it’s going in,” she said.

“We’ve all come home with a tree that’s lopsided, or even too tall or too short. For decorations to look good on a tree, it has to be a good tree in the first place.”

Here are Pines and Needles’ tips to help you choose the perfect Christmas tree that will last all Yuletide.

Take measurements before buying your Christmas tree

The likelihood is you probably know where your Christmas tree will go (same room as every year, no doubt?) but is it the best place? Your Christmas tree is supposed to be the centrepiece of the room where you and the family will gather on Christmas Day but it’s worth asking yourself whether it’s too close to a heat source, blocking a door or perhaps it’s actually too much for space? If you’ve answered yes to any of those questions, it could be worth a rethink.

Once you have decided on a place for it and before you buy it, measure the height, width and depth of the space. Your tree should be at least half a foot shorter than the ceiling to allow room for the tree topper – nobody likes a squashed angel! Also, allow space around the tree, so that it isn’t too close to any walls or furniture.

Bonus tip: Christmas tree shoppers should factor in the height of the tree stand in the overall height. Doing this before choosing your tree will save any last minute stress.

Choose the right type of real Christmas tree

Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes, shades of green and other unique characteristics. If you are after a particular look and feel, it’s definitely worth doing your homework before tracking down the specific tree type you want.

Quality and premium are the motto of Pines and Needles and for more than 20 years they have supplied homes across London, as well as nationwide with truly magnificent Christmas trees.

The firm favourite is the Nordmann Fir, which has been the best seller for a number of years with its non-dropping needles and vibrant colour.

For those looking to fill a tighter space, look no further than the Fraser Fir. Rich in colour, it has more of a narrow Christmas tree shape.

The newest addition to Pines and Needles’ range of beautiful trees is the much sought after Noble Fir. This stunning, UK-grown tree has that spectacular Christmas scent, won’t drop its needles and will stay strong and glorious for the whole Yuletide period. It’s available from 5ft to 8ft for this year.

How to know your real Christmas tree is fresh

Working out whether your real Christmas tree is still fresh is relatively easy – the trick is to look for a shiny, healthy appearance.

Its needles should be flexible and not fall easily. You can check this by dropping lightly on its stump. Evergreens lose needles all year, but if it drops more than a few, it is not fresh.

Aim to buy, or collect, your tree no more than four weeks before Christmas Day. Remember they are natural living things, so don’t put your tree up too early or you won’t get the best out of it.