Getting it home
Ask the farm to net your tree: it protects the branches and makes it far easier to carry. If it is going on a roof rack, lay it with the base facing forwards and strap it at both ends. Leave the netting on until the tree is standing in its final spot.
Before it comes indoors
If you aren’t putting the tree up straight away, keep it outside in a cool, sheltered place, standing upright in a bucket of water.
When you are ready, saw a thin slice (about 2.5 cm, or an inch) off the base. Within a few hours of being cut, a tree seals its base with sap, and a fresh cut lets it drink again. Many farms will make this cut for you as you leave.
Use a stand that holds water
A stand with a water reservoir makes the biggest difference to how long your tree lasts. A fresh tree can drink well over a litre of water a day, most of all in the first week. Check the level every day and keep it topped up: if the water drops below the base, the cut can seal over and the tree stops drinking.
Plain tap water is all it needs. There is no need for sugar, aspirin or other additives.
Where to put it
Keep the tree away from radiators, fires, stoves and sunny windows, which dry it out quickly. A cooler room, or the coolest corner of a warm one, keeps it fresh for longer. Turn the radiator nearest the tree down if you can.
Lights and safety
Use LED lights, which stay cool, and switch them off when you go to bed or go out. Don’t let the tree dry out: a dry tree is a fire risk as well as a mess.
After Christmas
Most councils collect real trees in early January or have drop-off points, and the trees are shredded for chippings or compost. Remove every decoration first. Container-grown trees can go back outside: move them somewhere sheltered for a few days before they go into the open garden.
Ready to choose yours? Find a Christmas tree farm near you, or read our guide to choosing a real tree.