Christmas tree guides

Which variety to pick, what it costs and which trees hold their needles.

• What trees are Christmas trees?Almost every real Christmas tree in the UK is a fir, a spruce or a pine. Here is how the main varieties differ and how to pick the right one.
• Which Christmas tree smells the best?If a real tree is mostly about that fresh forest smell, the variety you choose makes a big difference. Here is how the main UK trees compare.
• Which Christmas tree doesn't drop needles?No real tree is completely needle free, but some varieties come close. Here is which ones to choose and how to keep shedding to a minimum.
• How much is a Christmas tree?Real Christmas tree prices vary with height, variety and where you buy. Here is what you can roughly expect to pay in the UK this year.
• Choosing a real Christmas treeVariety, size, freshness and what to bring to the farm.
• Cut, potted or container-grown?The differences, and which kind suits your home.

How to keep a real tree fresh, green and full for the whole of Christmas.

• How long does a real Christmas tree last?A fresh, well-watered real tree will usually look good for four to five weeks indoors. Here is what affects that, and how to time your purchase.
• How to keep a Christmas tree aliveA real tree stays fresh for weeks if it gets three things: a fresh cut, plenty of water and a cool spot. This is the routine that works.
• How to fluff a Christmas treeFluffing turns a flat, gappy tree into a full one. It takes some patience with an artificial tree, and mostly time with a real one.
• Keeping your Christmas tree freshGetting it home, setting it up and watering it.

Lights, layouts and decorations, step by step.

• Which Christmas tree lights are best?Good lights make more difference to a tree than any bauble. Here is how to choose a set that looks warm, runs cool and lasts for years.
• How to put lights on a Christmas treeThe secret to a glowing tree is putting the lights deep in the branches, not just around the outside. This step-by-step method works on any real or artificial tree.
• How to decorate a Christmas treeA beautifully decorated tree is mostly about order and depth. Follow these steps and your tree will look full and balanced, whatever your style.

When the tree goes up, when it comes down, and where the tradition began.

• When should you put up your Christmas tree?There is no fixed rule, but tradition, habit and the life of a real tree all point to early December. Here is how to pick the right weekend.
• What date should you take your Christmas tree down?Twelfth Night is the traditional answer in the UK, but whether that means 5 or 6 January depends on how you count. Here is how to decide.
• Is it bad luck to take your Christmas tree down early?Folklore says yes to both, which tells you most of what you need to know. Here is where the superstitions came from and how seriously to take them.
• Which country started the Christmas tree tradition?Germany is usually credited, although the Baltic states have a claim of their own. Here is how the tradition grew and how it reached British living rooms.
• What does a Christmas tree represent?At heart, the Christmas tree is a symbol of life and hope in the darkest part of the year. Each part of it, from the star to the baubles, has picked up its own meaning along the way.

Keeping cats and trees safe around each other.

• Which Christmas trees are toxic to cats?Most real Christmas trees are only mildly toxic to cats, but needles, sap and tree water can still make a curious cat ill. Here is what to know before you bring one home.
• How to keep cats away from your Christmas treeYou cannot explain Christmas to a cat, but you can make the tree dull, stable and hard to get at. These simple steps keep both the tree and the cat in one piece.

What to do with your tree once the season is over.

• What to do with your Christmas tree after ChristmasA real Christmas tree does not have to end up as rubbish. In the UK it can be collected, chipped, composted, reused in the garden or, if it is potted, planted out for next year.